Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
CM Devendra Fadnavis has assured protestors advocating for Maratha reservation that he will review a presentation (PPT) on the constitutional and legal aspects of the issue. The assurance came during a meeting with a delegation on Sunday, where he stated that he would allocate time for this after the conclusion of the ongoing legislature session.
The demand for Maratha reservation gained momentum last month during the Maratha Reservation Chintan Andolan at Kranti Chowk, where activist Ramesh Kere Patil staged a five-day hunger strike. Responding to the agitation, State Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil had promised to facilitate a meeting with the CM. The delegation submitted a memorandum listing several demands, including the immediate implementation of the previously granted Maratha reservation in Marathwada. Other key demands included fellowships for Ph.D. students registered under the SARTHI scheme from the date of registration, loan provisions under the Annasaheb Patil Economic Backward Development Corporation’s "Magael Tyala Karj" (Loan on Demand) scheme, and granting loan approval powers to the corporation. Additionally, they sought the withdrawal of cases against Maratha reservation protestors, the establishment of Maratha student hostels in every district, the disbursement of pending amounts under the Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh Hostel Allowance Scheme, and a supplementary charge sheet against all perpetrators involved in the brutal murder of Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. During the discussions, CM Fadnavis reiterated his commitment to reviewing the PPT after the legislature session and prioritizing resolutions to the other demands. Ravindra Kale, a representative of the delegation, confirmed that Water Resources Minister Vikhe Patil and Ramesh Kere Patil were present during the meeting.