Maratha reservation row: Marathas should get justice without taking away anyone’s rights, says Eknath Shinde in Parbhani

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 groupsldquoJustice should be delivered to the Maratha community without taking away anyone elsersquos rightsrdquo Shinde said at a farmer and youth interaction programme in Parbhani stressing the need for social harmony and a legal approach to resolving the communityrsquos demandsThe 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 peopleShinde highlights measures for Maratha communityShinde said he was aware of Jarange Patilrsquos commitment to the Maratha community and recalled meeting him twice while serving as chief ministerHe said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had also deputed ministers to examine the issues raised by the communityListing measures taken since 2014 Shinde referred to efforts to provide reservation to Marathas recruitment against 5200 supernumerary posts scrutiny of lakhs of records by the Justice Shinde Committee the provision for Kunbi certificates and 10 per cent reservationHe also cited Rs 300 crore allocated to SARTHI an increase in the Annasaheb Patil Corporationrsquos 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 departmentShinde said farmers remained at the centre of the governmentrsquos policies and assured cultivators in Parbhani which has received inadequate rainfall of government supportHe highlighted the Centrersquos Rs 6000 assistance and an additional Rs 6000 from the state along with farm loan waivers and two instalments totalling nearly Rs 10000 crore for 12 lakh farmersThe government would focus on allied agricultural activities mechanisation microirrigation natural and modern farming water conservation and ensuring irrigation water reaches farms he saidRs 1500 crore investment planShinde said the government was planning to attract investments worth Rs 1500 crore by leveraging Parbhanirsquos agricultural potentialHe also announced plans for a lsquoSilk and Milkrsquo pilot project and highlighted the use of drones digital technology agricultural processing packaging and direct market linkagesFor young people he said the government would expand opportunities in skill development startups agritech food processing and artificial intelligence He also promised a new MIDC and industries for the districtShinde highlights Ladki Bahin schemeShinde highlighted the Ladki Bahin scheme free higher education for girls and a 50 per cent concession on ST bus travel for womenldquoI will not stop until I make my Ladki Bahins lakhpatisrdquo he saidRs 110 crore promised for ParbhaniShinde announced Rs 110 crore for Parbhanirsquos development and said he would pursue additional funds with the Prime Minister and Union Home MinisterHe 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 JadhavldquoFarmers and youth are the two strong pillars of Maharashtrarsquos development Development should not be restricted to Mumbai and Pune it should reach every part of the state from Chanda to Bandardquo Shinde saidHe also invoked the political philosophy of late Balasaheb Thackeray and late Anand Dighe referring to their emphasis on ldquo80 per cent social work and 20 per cent politicsrdquoUBT other party leaders join Shiv SenaThe programme also saw several elected representatives and officebearers from the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray UBT faction and other political parties join the Shiv Sena in the presence of ShindeThe 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 officebearers