Maharashtra govt positive about Maratha reservation: Eknath Shinde urging activist Manoj Jarange to end fast

At a press conference that was held in Mumbai this morning before leaving for Kolhapur for a two-day visit to participate in two-day national convention of Shiv Sena (Shinde group), Shinde said the state government has already stated positive about Maratha community peoples reservation issue, so there was no need to express protest and taking agitation, and on this ground, he appealed to Jarange-Patil to withdraw his ongoing agitation of hunger strike in Anntarwali-Sarati.

Shinde said the state Backward Classes Commission has submitted its report on the Maratha survey. He expressed confidence that the Maratha community would get a lasting reservation.

He said a total of four lakhs of employees were engaged on a war footing to check backwardness in social economics and education with a survey of more than 2.25 crore families, and the government would take a decision on this issue in a cabinet meeting and also discuss this issue in a special assembly session called on February 20.

With confidence, Shinde said, "Reservation can be given to the Maratha community without any injustice to the OBC or any other community, which will fit and remain within the framework of the law. Government's stance has been very clear and positive from the beginning.".

Meanwhile, Jarange-Patil's indefinite fast entered on the seventh day today, while the high court directed doctors to saline Jarange-Patil after considering his health.

State Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Phadnvis was present at the press conference, while his counterpart Aji Pawar was absent as he is out of Mumbai.