'Attempts being made to incite Maratha community before polls'

Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil today alleged that "certain leaders" were trying to provoke the Maratha community -- which has been demanding reservations in jobs and education -- as the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections are nearing.

Patil, who heads a cabinet sub-committee looking into the politically dominant community's demands, said a group of Maratha leaders tore up copies of government resolutions (GRs) regarding decisions for the welfare of the community after a press conference at the Y B Chavan Pratishthan auditorium last week.

"We have intelligence reports on certain leaders who are funding these press conferences. These leaders, who want to create unrest in the community in an election year, have been identified. We request these leaders to stop such activities," the minister said.

The BJP-led government was ready to accept positive suggestions, he said, calling upon the Maratha KrantiMorcha, which spearheaded the agitation for reservations, to help ensure effective implementation of ll the decisions taken for the Maratha community's welfare so far.

The issue of reservations for Marathas was being heard by the court (where the government ordinance on quota has been challenged), he said, adding "we will fight the case to secure reservations, and till then we have introduced other policies for the welfare of the Maratha community."