Maratha stir: Govt should take a decision community can trust, says Rane

Former Maharashtra chief minister Narayan Rane today hoped that the state government would take such a decision on the Maratha reservation which the community could trust.

He, however, also claimed that there was a "negative reaction" over the issue from the government's side.

Rane, a Rajya Sabha MP on a BJP ticket, told reporters that he had met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis when the Maratha reservation stir was gaining momentum in the state.

"Some persons have committed suicide, there is violence. There is a negative reaction about reservations from the government's side. I appealed to the chief minister that this should stop," he said.

"Fadnavis also wants the agitation and violence to stop. I met a few protesters who told me that they expect the government to take an immediate decision. I will meet Fadnavis again in this regard," the BJP leader said.

"I expect the government to take a decision which the community will trust.. I am not mediating since I belong to the community," Rane said.

The parliamentarian claimed that the state government was competent to provide reservations for the Maratha community, and accused the Shiv Sena, a constituent in the Fadnavis government, of opposing reservations for the community.

Rane had earlier headed a special committee formed during the tenure of the previous Congress-led Democratic Front government to study Maratha reservations.

The committee had recommended reservations for the community and submitted its report to then chief minister Prithviraj Chavan in February, 2014.

Rane, a former Sena leader, also extended birthday greetings to the saffron party's chief Uddhav Thackeray today, adding that "my wishes are more important than that of Rahul Gandhi".

Rane had left the Sena in 2005 reportedly over differences with Uddhav.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi had wished Thackeray on his 58th birthday, raising eyebrows in political circles.

"Best wishes to Shri Uddhav Thackeray ji, on his birthday. I wish him good health and happiness always," Gandhi tweeted this morning.