The Maratha quota agitation in Maharashtra has taken a tumultuous turn, prompting Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to convene an all-party meeting to address the escalating situation. Surprisingly, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray was notably absent from the invite list, indicating a potential political divide within the state.
Opposition leaders were apprised by Shinde about the government's strategy to manage the situation and were requested to lend their support. However, as the meeting commenced, Maratha community members who were legislators from various parties expressed their discontent through protests, ultimately closing the main gate outside the Mantralaya. Prominent MLAs, including names like Babasaheb Patil, Shekhar Nikam, Rahul Patil, and others, called for a special session of the Maharashtra Assembly to address the Maratha quota issue. It's worth mentioning that the protesting MLAs were reportedly removed from the Mantralaya premises.
In the midst of these developments, Maharashtra's Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Sanjay Saxena, visited Beed district to assess the aftermath of extensive violence during the Maratha quota agitation earlier in the week.
Key events in the Maratha quota agitation include an incident in Solapur district where four individuals supporting activist Manoj Jarange consumed poison as a demonstration of their commitment to the cause. Jarange, who has been on a hunger strike since October 25, emphasized that he would stop drinking water if the Maharashtra government does not fulfill the demand for reservation for the Maratha community. He urged leaders from all political parties to pressure the government into convening a special session of the state legislature to address this issue.
Police have arrested 99 individuals in connection with the Beed violence, and the situation is currently reported to be under control. State-run bus services have been entirely suspended in five Marathwada districts, and curfew and Internet shutdowns have been enforced in parts of Beed, where protesters targeted the homes of political leaders. Notably, Maharashtra cabinet minister Hasan Mushrif's vehicle was vandalized in south Mumbai by Maratha quota agitators, and three individuals were detained in connection with the incident.
In an effort to quell the unrest, the chief minister has made a plea for non-violence and called on political parties to refrain from activities that could exacerbate the situation.
In a significant development, the Maharashtra government has issued an order to provide new Kunbi caste certificates to eligible members of the Maratha community, enabling them to access reservation benefits under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. This decision follows a thorough examination of historical documents, including those from the Nizam era, which revealed references to the Kunbi caste.
Kunbis, traditionally associated with agriculture, are classified under the OBC category in Maharashtra, affording them reservation benefits in education and government employment.
However, the absence of Uddhav Thackeray, the president of Shiv Sena (UBT), at the all-party meeting has drawn criticism from party leader Sanjay Raut. Raut expressed frustration with the government's priorities, accusing them of engaging in divisive politics while the state grapples with turmoil.
Meanwhile, activist Manoj Jarange, who has been on an indefinite fast demanding Maratha reservation, stressed the community's insistence on "complete" reservation and called for a special session of the state legislature to address the issue.
