Maharashtra reservation row: Fadnavis says demands will be considered only within Constitution, rules

Maharashtra CM says, `Fadnavis says demands will be considered within constitutional framework`

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said that his government would listen to demands raised by different communities on reservation but would take decisions only within the framework of the Constitution and rules.

While speaking to the media in Pune, Fadnavis said, "The government runs according to the Constitution and will continue to do so. It does not function under pressure or outside the rules. However, the government listens to everyone," as cited by PTI.

The CM also added, "If a demand is in the public interest and fits within the Constitution, it will be considered. If it does not fit within the Constitution, it will not be accepted."

Devendra Fadnavis's remarks come amid renewed political debate over reservation demands, particularly those concerning the Maratha community and the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

Manoj Jarange targets Bawankule over the reservation row

On the other hand, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange has also been targeting Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule over the issue.

Fadnavis said the government was committed to ensuring justice to all communities, including Marathas, OBCs, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Vimukta Jatis, and Nomadic Tribes.

The CM added, "The Constitution asks us to take care of everyone. This government will take care of everyone and give justice to all. We will not snatch from one community and give it to another. We have taken care of everyone so far and will continue to do so," as per PTI.

Fadnavis, while defending Bawankule against allegations that he had acted against the interests of a particular community, said that a minister was constitutionally required to forward complaints and representations received by him to the concerned department for inquiry.

"Whenever a complaint comes to any minister, the Constitution places a responsibility on the minister to forward it for inquiry. Accordingly, every representation received is sent to the concerned department. The department does not take a decision merely because of such a representation; it takes a decision on the basis of evidence," Fadnavis said.

The Maharashtra Chief Minister also said that the committee dealing with the matter was independent of the government and had judicial powers.

"The committee is not bound to the government and does not report to the government. It has judicial powers. If anyone is aggrieved by its decision, an appellate authority has been created in the recently concluded session, and they can approach it," he further added.

(With inputs from PTI)