30 August,2026 09:06 PM IST | Parbhani | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. File Pic
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said the Mahayuti government was committed to ensuring justice for the Maratha community without affecting the rights of OBCs, Bahujans, tribals and other social groups.
"Justice should be delivered to the Maratha community without taking away anyone else's rights," Shinde said at a farmer and youth interaction programme in Parbhani, stressing the need for social harmony and a legal approach to resolving the community's demands.
The programme was held despite an appeal by Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil to cancel it. Shinde said preparations had been underway for two months and that cancelling the event at the last minute was not possible. The gathering drew a strong response from farmers and young people.
Shinde said he was aware of Jarange Patil's commitment to the Maratha community and recalled meeting him twice while serving as chief minister.
He said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had also deputed ministers to examine the issues raised by the community.
Listing measures taken since 2014, Shinde referred to efforts to provide reservation to Marathas, recruitment against 5,200 supernumerary posts, scrutiny of lakhs of records by the Justice Shinde Committee, the provision for Kunbi certificates and 10 per cent reservation.
He also cited Rs 300 crore allocated to SARTHI, an increase in the Annasaheb Patil Corporation's loan limit to Rs 15 lakh, support for hostels and higher education, and Rs 10 lakh assistance to families of those who died during protests. He said eligible candidates had also been provided jobs in the State Transport department.
Shinde said farmers remained at the centre of the government's policies and assured cultivators in Parbhani, which has received inadequate rainfall, of government support.
He highlighted the Centre's Rs 6,000 assistance and an additional Rs 6,000 from the state, along with farm loan waivers and two instalments totalling nearly Rs 10,000 crore for 12 lakh farmers.
The government would focus on allied agricultural activities, mechanisation, micro-irrigation, natural and modern farming, water conservation and ensuring irrigation water reaches farms, he said.
Shinde said the government was planning to attract investments worth Rs 1,500 crore by leveraging Parbhani's agricultural potential.
He also announced plans for a âSilk and Milk' pilot project and highlighted the use of drones, digital technology, agricultural processing, packaging and direct market linkages.
For young people, he said the government would expand opportunities in skill development, startups, agri-tech, food processing and artificial intelligence. He also promised a new MIDC and industries for the district.
Shinde highlighted the Ladki Bahin scheme, free higher education for girls and a 50 per cent concession on ST bus travel for women.
"I will not stop until I make my Ladki Bahins lakhpatis," he said.
Shinde announced Rs 110 crore for Parbhani's development and said he would pursue additional funds with the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister.
He also promised support for a cancer hospital, sports complex, roads, drainage, drinking water and irrigation projects, while assuring that the government would stand firmly behind MP Sanjay Bandu Jadhav.
"Farmers and youth are the two strong pillars of Maharashtra's development. Development should not be restricted to Mumbai and Pune; it should reach every part of the state, from Chanda to Banda," Shinde said.
He also invoked the political philosophy of late Balasaheb Thackeray and late Anand Dighe, referring to their emphasis on "80 per cent social work and 20 per cent politics".
The programme also saw several elected representatives and office-bearers from the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) faction and other political parties join the Shiv Sena in the presence of Shinde.
The entrants included 12 former corporators, including a former Parbhani municipal mayor; 32 corporators from municipal councils in Mantha, Gangakhed, Purna, Jintur, Manwath, Selu and Ghansawangi; five Zilla Parishad members; 10 former Zilla Parishad members; seven market committee directors; 14 Purna Panchayat Samiti members and other office-bearers.
