Talk to govt before holding rally: Minister to Maratha leaders

Maharashtra revenue minister Chandrakant Patil today appealed to the leaders of Maratha community to discuss their pending issues with the government before holding the rally which they have planned.
"The government has taken decisions on most of their demands....We have revised eligibility for economically backward class for the benefit of students by raising annual family income ceiling to Rs 6 lakh from Rs 5 lakh," he said.
The government wouldn't object to the (planned) rally of the community "but we expect the leaders to talk to us before holding it," Patil said.
"We have also provided competent prosecutors for the Kopardi rape and murder case, which was a prominent demand (of community leaders)," he said.

"The objections to provisions of Atrocity Act (SC- ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act) have been conveyed to the Union government, because it is a Central Act. The government is also in talks with the Centre to provide assured support prices to the agricultural produce," Patil said.