Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday appealed Maratha community to not take law in their hand and promised them that he won’t sit quiet till the community gets reservation quota.
“I too was born in a common Maratha family. I’m fully aware of the problems and pains of the community. Hence, I won’t sit quiet till the community gets reservation quota,” Shinde said in a statement released here in the evening.
“The community has expressed itself very responsibly and in a peaceful manner till now. I appeal to them with folded hands that they should not take the law in their hands,” the Chief Minister said in his statement while warning the community to beware of individuals trying to reap the agitation for their political benefits.
“The incident of lathicharge during the Maratha agitation is a very unfortunate incident. I had contacted Jarange Patil, who has been leading the agitation. We had even conducted a few meetings regarding their demands. The government was working on their demands. But, then the agitation started. I had appealed Jarange Patil to withdraw the agitation. Meanwhile his health deteriorated, which is why the SP and the district collector went to the spot of the agitation and requested Jarange Patil to get admitted to the hospital. However, that followed the unfortunate incident,” CM Shinde said in his statement.
“When I came to know of the incident, I immediately took detailed information from the concerned officials. I’ve released orders for deep inquiry into the incidents and also directed officials to ensure that the government shall bare the medical expenses for treatment of all the injured in the incident,” CM Shinde added in his statement.
Giving the history of how the government under Devendra Fadnavis initiated process for granting reservation quota to Maratha community in 2014 and how the efforts by different governments in this direction were struck down by the courts, Shinde said how his government ensured that 3,500 candidates from the community get the benefit of the quota. He also narrated several schemes and initiatives taken by his government for the development of the community. Thousands of individuals have been benefitted out of the Annasaheb Patil Economic Development Corporation which has spent Rs 516 crore till now, while more than two thousand students have received more than Rs 87 crore in grants through Sarathi. Hostels are being developed across every district in the state for the students of Maratha community. They are also being given fellowships for education abroad, CM said in the statement.
CM also stated that some selfish people are trying to use the Maratha youth that had displayed its responsible way of protests in 58 protest rallies across the state a few years back and appealed the community to now to fall for such selfish leaders.
The leaders who have ruled the state for a long time in the past too should avoid giving wind to such divisive forces, CM said and appealed politicians to not to play with the emotions of the community.
