Fadnaivs Govt confirms reservation for Maratha community

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday confirmed that Maratha community would get the reservation in the government jobs and in admissions in academic institutions from December 1.

After receiving the report by the Maharashtra State Backward Commission, which had come to the conclusion that Marathas fall under each of 25 categories of backwardness, Fadnavis while addressing a rally here, said, "There is a good news that we have received a report on Maratha reservation from the Backward Commission today."

"We will complete all legal formalities in the month of November itself and the Maratha reservation will be announced soon. I request everyone to stop protesting and celebrate on December 1," said the Chief Minister.

"This is not an issue of taking credit. Everyone should come together and see how we can do better for the entire community. We assure that there will be no changes in the present reservation policy for other classes. The SC, ST, OBC, and VJNT will be untouched, while we grant reservation to the Maratha community too," Fadnavis added.

The Maharashtra State Backward Classes Commission has suggested 16 per cent reservation for the Maratha community, stating that the community is socially and economically backward.

In September, the Maharashtra government had apprised the Bombay High Court that the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission was likely to submit its report on social and economic conditions of the Maratha community by 15 November.

On August 9, as many as 194 people were detained by the Pune Police for rioting and arson after a protest, seeking the reservation for the Maratha community, turned violent.

The Maratha community, which accounts for 33 per cent of the state's total population, had been agitating since 2017 demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions. The community members also sought a waiver of farmer loans, justice in Kopardi rape case of 2016, and a permanent solution to the growing cases of unemployment in the state.

In 2014, the then Congress-NCP government had announced 16 per cent reservation for Marathas and five per cent reservation for the Muslims.