30 May,2026 03:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. File Pic
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday reiterated that the state government remains committed to addressing the concerns of the Maratha community on the reservation issue, while assuring that the interests of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) would not be compromised in the process.
The chief minister said any decision taken by the government on reservation-related matters would be within the framework of the Constitution and capable of withstanding judicial scrutiny.
His remarks came amid renewed agitation by Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange, who launched his ninth indefinite hunger strike in Jalna district earlier in the day.
Speaking to reporters after inspecting a compressed biogas plant at Bhandewadi in Nagpur, Fadnavis was asked about Jarange's ongoing hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district.
Jarange has resumed his agitation over several pending demands, including the issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to eligible members of the Maratha community, implementation of records contained in the Hyderabad and Satara Gazette documents, and withdrawal of cases registered against protesters during the Maratha reservation movement.
Responding to these demands, Fadnavis said the government had consistently maintained a positive approach towards resolving issues concerning the Maratha community.
"The government has always been positive on this issue. Whenever challenges arose, appropriate decisions were taken. Our stand remains transparent and positive, and it will continue to be so," he said.
The chief minister stressed that any solution to the reservation issue must comply with constitutional provisions and judicial directives.
According to Fadnavis, decisions taken outside the legal framework may generate immediate attention but are unlikely to survive challenges in courts.
"We have to follow the Constitution and the directions issued by the High Court and the Supreme Court. A decision taken outside that framework may attract publicity, but it will not stand legal scrutiny," he said.
He added that the government would continue working towards solutions that are legally sustainable and capable of passing constitutional tests.
"We will take every decision that can stand the test of the Constitution and the courts," he said.
The Maratha reservation issue has also triggered concerns among OBC organisations, which have opposed any move to grant reservation to Marathas from the existing OBC quota.
Addressing these concerns, Fadnavis said the government would not favour one community at the expense of another.
"This government has never taken benefits away from one community to give them to another, and it never will," he said.
He assured OBC groups that their existing rights and benefits would remain protected.
"The OBC community has no reason to worry. We will address the concerns of the Maratha community, but we will not allow any injustice to the OBC community," the chief minister added.
When asked about demands for issuing a government resolution related to the Maratha reservation issue, Fadnavis said discussions were currently underway.
Without elaborating on the specifics, he maintained that the government was prepared to take any legally permissible decision.
"I do not want to go into details at this stage, but we are ready to take any decision within the framework of the Constitution and the law," he said.
Earlier in the day, Fadnavis inspected a compressed biogas project at Bhandewadi and described it as the country's first municipal waste processing facility based on dry-digestion technology.
The project, which is being developed in three phases with a combined processing capacity of 1,200 tonnes of waste per day, is expected to become fully operational by August.
According to the chief minister, the facility will generate around 28 tonnes of compressed biogas, 120 tonnes of organic manure and nearly 400 tonnes of refuse-derived fuel daily.
The project has been developed through private investment of nearly Rs 300 crore and does not involve any tipping fee from the government, he said.
Fadnavis said the initiative would help address long-standing waste management challenges in the Bhandewadi area while reducing environmental pollution and converting municipal waste into useful resources.
Commenting on the recent rise in fuel prices, Fadnavis said the increase was a consequence of the ongoing global energy crisis and disruptions in international supply chains.
He noted that fuel prices had risen across several countries, including the United States, European nations and India's neighbouring countries.
"Fuel prices have increased across the world. Maintaining supply chains during such circumstances involves additional costs," he said.
The chief minister expressed confidence that fuel prices would stabilise once the international situation improves and global energy markets return to normal conditions.
(With inputs from PTI)
