Maharashtra Politics: Devendra Fadnavis Blames Uddhav Thackeray for Maratha Reservation Cancellation

Reported by Tikam Shekhawat

Pune, 21st July 2024: The political atmosphere in Maharashtra has heated up over the issue of Maratha reservation. On one hand, Maratha leader Manoj Jarange Patil is once again on a hunger strike, while on the other, the ruling party and the opposition are criticizing each other over the reservation issue. Amid this, Devendra Fadnavis, speaking at a BJP conclave in Pune, has also criticized the Mahavikas Aghadi on this contentious issue.

“The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has always made its stand on Maratha reservation clear. We have always believed that the poor of the Maratha community should get reservations. Actually, the battle for reservations started in 1982. At that time, Annasaheb Patil had asked the Congress Chief Minister for reservation. However, they did not give a reservation. Since then, many governments have come to the state. Sharad Pawar himself was Chief Minister four times. However, he did not give reservation,” said Fadnavis.

“We had given reservation to the Maratha community. Not only was the reservation given, but it was also challenged in the High Court and the Supreme Court. However, as long as we were in power, the Supreme Court refused to stay the Maratha reservation thrice. But due to badluck, the Mahavikas Aghadi government came to the state under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray, and the Maratha reservation was cancelled,” Fadnavis criticized.

“After Eknath Shinde’s government came again in the state, we gave 10 percent reservation to the Maratha community. Today, the Maratha community is benefiting from it. Police recruitment is going on in the state, and thousands of Maratha youths have got jobs. Even when all this is happening, the way Maratha reservation politics is going on is unfortunate,” he said.

“Today, agitation for Maratha reservation is going on in the state. I appeal to Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, and Nana Patole to clarify their stand on Maratha reservation first. They should first tell whether giving reservation to Marathas from OBC is allowed. However, all three leaders of the Mahavikas Aghadi are taking a duplicitous stand regarding reservation,” Fadnavis said.