Govt taking steps forward on Maratha quota, Jarange should respond positively too: Eknath Shinde

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday said the government would ensure justice for the Maratha community without causing injustice to the Other Backward Classes OBCs or any other community reported the PTIShinde appealed to Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange to adopt a positive and constructive approach saying that if the government takes ldquofour steps forwardrdquo protesters should also respond positivelyJarange is currently heading towards Mumbai to stage a protest over the demand for OBC reservation for eligible Maratha community members with Kunbi caste recordsSpeaking to reporters Shinde also urged Jarange to ensure that the ongoing Ganesh festival is not disrupted by the protest the news agency reportedThe Ganeshotsav will conclude on September 25 and large numbers of devotees from Maharashtra and other parts of India as well as from abroad are visiting MumbaiShinde said the right to protest must be respected but protesters should ensure that ordinary citizens and devotees do not face inconvenienceHe added that the government and police administration were taking all necessary measures to maintain law and order during the Ganeshotsav 2026Jarange heads to MumbaiJarange who has been on hunger strike for 17 days set out for Mumbai from Jalna district on Tuesday in a convoy of carsHundreds of villagers gathered along the route to support himThe Mumbai Police had earlier denied permission for Jarange to hold his protest at Azad Maidan citing law and order concerns during the Ganesh festivalJarange is demanding OBC quota benefits for Maratha community members who can establish their Kunbi caste lineage through historical recordsShinde said the government had maintained a positive position on the Maratha communitys demands from the beginning as per the PTIHe said the government was committed to providing reservation benefits to Marathas while ensuring that the interests of OBCs and other communities were Maratha reservation in 2014 Following legal proceedings the reservation was fixed at 12 per cent for education and 13 protectedAccording to Shinde the government is in regular dialogue with Jarange through the Chief Minister ministers district collectors police officials and state representativesHe added that some issues were still before the courts and would have to be addressed within the legal and constitutional framework10 per cent Maratha ReservationShinde highlighted several measures taken by the government on the Maratha reservation issueAccording to the PTI he recalled that the previous government led by then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had introduced Maratha reservation in 2014 Following legal proceedings the reservation was fixed at 12 per cent for education and 13 per cent for government jobsShinde said the reservation could not be sustained after a change of governmentHe added that after he became Chief Minister his government passed a law providing 10 per cent reservation for the Maratha community during a special session of the state legislatureShinde said that the students and young people are currently benefiting from the provisionShinde also referred to the governments decision concerning around 5300 candidates whose appointments had been held up because of court staysHe said he had publicly expressed his willingness to face consequences if it helped ensure that the affected candidates received their jobsThe government has also increased the loan limit of the Annasaheb Patil Economically Backward Development Corporation and introduced measures including hostel facilities and overseas education scholarshipsShinde further pointed to the work of the Justice Shinde Committee which was set up to examine historical records and facilitate the issuance of Kunbi certificates to eligible people reported the PTIHe claimed that millions of citizens had protesters to take a constructive approach and said the education and employment of economically disadvantaged students and received certificates through the processShinde warns against political use of agitationShinde said the government had done everything possible for the Maratha community within the limits of the law and the ConstitutionHowever he stressed that matters pending before the courts could not be resolved outside the legal processHe called on protesters to take a constructive approach and said the education and employment of economically disadvantaged students and young people should remain the priorityShinde also warned against attempts to use the Maratha agitation for political gainswith PTI inputs