Maha Council: Logjam continues over drought, Maratha quota

Proceedings in the Maharashtra Legislative Council continued to be disrupted Monday by the Opposition over demands for drought relief measures in the state and reservations for the Maratha community.

Council chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar directed the government to call a meet of leaders from all parties Tuesday morning to come up with a mutually acceptable solution to clear the logjam.

Responding to the Opposition, Leader of the House Chandrakant Patil said the government had almost finished taking action on eight drought relief measures and pending ones would also be completed immediately.

He said the government had already sent a proposal to the Centre seeking assistance, adding that relief measures were being taken notwithstanding the Union government's response.

Speaking on the quota issue, Patil, the state's Revenue minister, said the government had requested Maratha protesters to not go ahead with their protest Monday, keeping in mind the importance of the 26/11 terror attack anniversary.

However, they (protesters) did not heed the request, Patil informed.

"We will be tabling the Maratha reservation bill in the House this week. Hence we have told them there is no need for an agitation. Since we are tabling the bill, there is no compulsion to table an Action Taken Report (ATR) as well," Patil said.

"Also, I request you (Chairman) to advise the Opposition that questions can be solved only when the House functions and not by disruptions," Patil said.

Earlier, the Leader of Opposition in the Council, Dhananjay Munde, demanded that the government provide a compensation of Rs 50,000 per hectare for crop losses and Rs 1 lakh a hectare for orchards.

"Discussions on this issue can happen later. However, immediate relief measures are needed now. We will not let the House function till this happens," he said.

He further said that, on one hand, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was asking the Maratha community to be ready for a celebration on December 1, and on the other, police were arresting protesters.

Munde said the State Backward Class Commission report was submitted a fortnight ago and leaked to the media.

However, the NCP leader added, it had not been tabled yet and, therefore, the Opposition did not even know its contents.

He added that the report of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences on reservation for the Dhangar community was submitted to the government over two months ago and its contents were neither leaked to the media nor was it tabled.

"So has TISS opined Dhangars are backward or not?" he asked.

The House was adjourned twice following din by the Opposition, before being adjourned for the day.