MKM Leader: Will intensify Maratha quota demand through Sanvaad Yatra

Marathas in Maharashtra are set to intensify their demand for quota with the launch of a tenday community outreach programme beginning November 16 a Maratha Kranti Morcha MKM leader announced here WednesdayThe politically influential Marathas who constitute around 30 per cent of the states population have been demanding 16 per cent reservation in government jobs and education under Other Backward Class OBC categoryAgainst the backdrop of the violent protests the Maharashtra government had in September this year told the Bombay High Court that the State Backward Class Commission is likely to finalise its report on the socioeconomic status of the Maratha community by November 15The upcoming Sanvaad Yatra which is aimed at intensifying the demand for quota as well as to spread awareness in the Maratha community about the cause would be taken out in each revenue division of the state in a democratic manner The MKMs core committee Wednesday accused the government of adopting a divide and rule policy to thwart the campaign of the MorchaThe Maratha Kranti Morchas agitation is taking shape in a decisive direction over its demands including that of the quota in jobs and education for the community Sanjiv BhorPatil a member of the core committee told reporters The Yatra is also aimed at communicating with the members of the Maratha community and to dissuade youths from taking extreme steps such as suicide he saidThe community had in July this year launched an agitation that had witnessed violence at several places in the state Around eight people had committed suicide in the months of July and August this year linking their extreme decision to the Maratha quota demand BhorPatil said the yatra with vehicles would culminate at the state legislature building in Mumbai on November 26 when the state assembly and council will be in session In a departure from convention the winter session of the state legislature will be held in Mumbai instead of Nagpur the second capital of Maharashtra this yearResponding to a query BhorPatil dismissed reports of factionalism in the MKM saying they are very much united BhorPatil who was accompanied by other members of the committee accused the state government of using divide and rule policy to thwart the campaign He said the Morcha has formed a statelevel core committee and the coordination committees to foil such division attemptsWhen asked about a proMaratha group planning to form a political party in the name of the Morcha BhorPatil said nobody has the right to float any organisation or a political party named after Morcha We are opposed to anyone who unilaterally misuses the Morchas name to engage in such acts he added According to media reports convener of Sakal Maratha Samaj and chief of Maratha Kranti Sanghatan Suresh Patil is planning to launch a new party to represent the cause of the communityCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updatesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever