Uran (Maharashtra), Sep 8 (IANS) Addressing the ongoing Maratha reservation issue and the fresh demands raised by activist Manoj Jarange Patil, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday stated that major decisions regarding benefits and welfare for the Maratha community were taken by his government and will continue to be.
He emphasised that the community has already seen tangible benefits from past government decisions rather than just promises on paper.
Speaking to reporters after the launch of JNPT–New Umargam stretch of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC), CM Fadnavis reaffirmed that any reservation given to the Maratha community must fit within constitutional boundaries and stand up to judicial scrutiny. He cautioned against solutions outside the legal framework that might not survive court review.
He reiterated the government’s stance that providing reservation benefits to the Marathas will not come at the expense of other groups. “We will not take away from anyone else’s plate to put into someone else’s,” he noted, assuring that OBC quotas will remain protected.
Addressing questions regarding Manoj Jarange Patil’s ongoing protest and demands, CM Fadnavis noted that doors for dialogue remain wide open. He stated that if there are any doubts, gaps, or misunderstandings regarding the government’s decisions, the state is willing to sit down, clarify, and resolve them.
Meanwhile, Jarange-Patil’s hunger strike for Maratha reservation continues, and his health condition has deteriorated. Following a telephonic conversation with Ministers Uday Samant and Prasad Lad, he agreed to receive IV fluids (saline); however, he remains firm on his stance not to call off the fast until all demands are met.
Speaking against this backdrop, former Minister and veteran BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar on Tuesday stated that resolving major issues often takes time. He reminded that the Maratha reservation issue remained unresolved during the tenures of previous Chief Ministers as well.
He added that present Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, are all positive about the matter and actively working to find a resolution.
Mungantiwar asserted that the ultimate solution to permanently resolve the reservation issue is to pass a constitutional amendment in Parliament within the constitutional framework. This step, he noted, would pave the way for reservations for both the Maratha and Dhangar communities without adversely impacting the existing quotas of any other community. To achieve this, he emphasised that MPs across all political parties must unite in Delhi and hold discussions with the Prime Minister.
–IANS
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