Patil urges commission to expedite report on Maratha community

Senior Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil, who heads a cabinet committe on Maratha reservations, today urged the Backward Classes Commission to submit its report expeditiously.

Patil led a delegation which met the commission chairman Justice (retd) M G Gaikwad this evening.

The commission's report on social and economic backwardness of the Marathas will be crucial for the government in defending the decision to grant 16 per cent reservation to the community before the Bombay High Court. The high court has at present stayed the decision.

Patil told reporters that he urged Justice Gaikwad to submit the report at the earliest.

Earlier in the day, Patil claimed while speaking to a news channel that the government has an audio clip of conversation of some top political leaders who were conspiring to let loose snakes amid the devotees gathered at Pandharpur on July 23.

After Maratha groups seeking reservations said they would oppose Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's visit to the Vitthal temple that day for the customary 'puja', Fadnavis had cancelled his visit to the temple town.

Speaking to a news channel, Patil today said, "Maratha reservations is not a political agenda for the government but it is a matter of commitment.

"Some big leaders were involved in the conspiracy to let loose snakes amid pilgrims with the intention of causing stampede," he said.

Fadnavis had made the same allegation earlier.

Patil's statement today comes ahead of tomorrow's all-party meet over the Maratha reservation issue.

Some representatives of Maratha organisations today met NCP leader and Satara MP Udayanraje Bhosale, and requested him to lead them in the talks with the government.

Sources said Bhosale will be talking to the leaders of the agitation before taking any decision.

Meanwhile, in a letter to Fadnavis, minister and Shiv Sena leader Arjun Khotkar demanded that no police cases should be filed against Maratha protesters.

"These are young and unemployed men. Kindly ensure no charges are pressed against them in view of their future," Khotkar said.