Maratha quota violence: Maharashtra government regrets use of force by police, says Deputy CM Fadnavis

"I never thought Fadnavis' knowledge is so acutely short. He doesn't even deserve to be allowed to come near Mantralaya (the state secretariat). How can the state government issue an ordinance against the decision of the Supreme Court?” the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief asked.

A "specific group with a particular right-wing ideology" infiltrated the peaceful protest for Maratha quota here and incited violence on September 1, a Maratha Kranti Morcha office bearer claimed on Monday. Addressing a press conference, MKM coordinator Sanjay Lakhe Patil also sought inclusion of the Maratha community in the Other Backward Classes so its members get reservations in jobs and education. "A specific group of a particular right-wing ideology infiltrated the peaceful protest and incited violence, which tarnished the reputation of the Maratha community. The Maratha Kranti Morcha has a history of organising peaceful protests seeking quota," he told reporters.

17 cases were filed in Jalna district in connection with Protest, A total of 3,181 people have been booked in 17 cases which were filed. 17 cases have been registered in 7 police stations. Till now 42 protesters have been arrested by the police in connection with violence and stone pelting. 

(Reported by- Suraj Ojha)

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Monday said the Maratha community must be given reservations in jobs and education without it affecting such provisions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Addressing a rally of his RPI(A) here, the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment condemned the police action on Maratha quota protestors in Jalna on September 1. "The RPI was the first to support reservations for the Maratha community. They must be given quota without it affecting reservations provided to SCs and STs," he said.

On the Jalna incident, Shiva Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray said, " I had gone to Jalna to meet protesters...This state government is shameless...They have brutally beaten everyone including women...Now they are not taking responsibility and playing the blame game...This government is sending the message that if anyone protests for justice we will break their head..."

On the Jalna incident, BJP National Secretary Pankaja Munde said, "I have already given my response...I am once again saying that I express my concern and fair investigation should be done at the government level..."

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said, "Our Govt has constituted a task force, a senior advocate like Harish Salve is a part of it. Our Govt is working on it extensively. What happened in Jalna is unfortunate. Even before this Maratha community protesters had taken out 58 protests but they never disturbed the law & order situation anywhere...The incidents that are happening recently  - several political people want to do politics on the pretext of Maratha community and protest. I urge them to keep the state peaceful, that is our duty. The ASP has been transferred out of the district and an officer has been suspended. This incident is being probed...The committee will present a report and we will take action as per the report..."

“I have directed officials to study the Supreme Court's verdict on the Maratha quota and recommend solutions. We need to establish that the Maratha community is backward,” the chief minister added.

Amid protests for Maratha quota, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday said a committee will submit its report within a month on how to issue Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas from Marathwada region. Kunbis (the community associated with agriculture) are grouped under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category in Maharashtra. “A committee was set up and asked to submit a report within a month on how to issue Kunbi certificates to the Maratha community from Marathwada. The state government has taken this issue seriously and we are working to find an amicable solution," the chief minister told reporters here.

Maratha leader Manoj Jarange Patil has given an ultimatum to Maharashtra government. The government should issue an ordinance for reservation, otherwise, I will stop drinking water from tomorrow. The government should not just hold meetings. Take a decision on the reservation. Next time if any representative from the government comes here, he should bring a copy of the ordinance with him.

(Reported by - Dinesh Mourya)

"State Minister Girish Mahajan and other ministers will go (to Jalna) for discussions. We can resolve this issue only through discussions. The state government is working seriously on their (Maratha community) demands," Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde added. 

"Today, we held a high-level meeting on the Maratha reservation. I have already spoken to protesters and we will resolve this issue systematically. Our government is serious about resolving the issues related to Maratha reservation," said Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde.

A shutdown was observed in Aurangabad on Monday protesting the police action against Maratha quota agitators in Jalna on September 1. Police had resorted to baton charge and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse a violent mob in Antarwali Sarathi on Dhule-Solapur road that allegedly refused to let authorities shift a man on hunger strike as part of the quota stir to the hospital. Several persons. including 40 police personnel, were injured and more than 15 ST buses were set ablaze. 

Devendra Fadnavis also said the lathi-charge order was not given by any top official to the Jana Police last week. "Such decisions (use of police force etc.) are taken at the local level."

Under fire for lathi-charge on Maratha quota protesters in Jalna district, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said the government regrets the use of force by police.

Deshmukh, a loyalist of NCP founder Sharad Pawar, said the "inhuman" police action on protesters last week was "very unfortunate".

Senior NCP leader Anil Deshmukh on Monday claimed police lathi-charged protesters seeking quota for Marathas in Jalna district after a phone call was made from the Maharashtra home ministry. The former state home minister also demanded an enquiry by a retired judge to find out who called up the Jalna district superintendent of police and ordered him to lathi-charge the protesters.

Police should have not resorted to lathi-charge, said Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar during the press conference on Jalan violence.

"A law was made in 2018, the High Court recognised it, the matter went to the Supreme Court, a stay came in 2020 and in May 2021, the Supreme Court cancelled the Maratha reservation. Uddhav Thackeray is speaking now, when he was in power, why did he not bring an ordinance? The same support given to OBCs was given to the Maratha community. Maratha community was given a loan of Rs 5 thousand crores. Helped through Sarathi organisation and arranged hostels," Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said during the presser.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said all culprits will be punished, thorough investigation will be conducted.

Youths from the Maratha community shut shops in Kalyan in support of the protest being held over the demand for the Maratha reservation.

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde arrives at Mumbai's Sahyadri Guest House to attend the meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation.

Manoj Jarange continued to sit on hunger strike even after Raj Thackeray's meeting. Thackeray visited the protest site  with his son Amit Thackeray and discussed the Maratha movement with Manoj Jarange.

MNS chief Raj Thackeray said that he would discuss the issue with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and assured that if the reservation issue is worth resolving, then we will definitely resolve it. He further said that lathicharger should be in Marathwada.

Maratha leader Manoj Jarange has refused to hold talks with Maharashtra government. 

Baramati (Maharashtra): People hold protest over the demand for Maratha reservation.

Following the violence in Jalna, section 37 (3) of the Maharashtra Police Act has been implemented. This section has been implemented in the entire Jalna district from 6 am on September 4 to 12 midnight on September 17. 

According to this section, if 5 or more people gather in one place without any valid reason, then legal action will be taken against them. The same section has now been imposed in Aurangabad city of Maharashtra. 

The Maratha community announced a bandh today in Aurangabad. Heavy arrangements of the police force have been made in the Aurangabad district.

Also, the leaves of all the policemen of Aurangabad have been cancelled. Two SRPF contingents have been called here. Besides, 500 home guards have also been deployed so that there is no lack of security. This bandh of the Maratha community taking place today has been supported by many small and big political parties including MIM and MNS.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, who is on his way to Jalna, meets  Maratha reservation protestors at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.

Maratha reservation protestors block road in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar of Maharashtra.

The Maharashtra government will hold its cabinet sub-committee meeting over the Maratha reservation today.