Mumbai, Aug 29 (PTI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday asserted that the state government will not do any injustice to the Marathas over their reservation demand, but will not let down other communities either.
Talking to reporters, Shinde criticised the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) over its handling of the Maratha reservation issue, accusing the previous coalition government of failing to safeguard the community's rights and lacking the political will to act when it mattered most.
He said the government was positive about the demands made by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange, but they should be appropriate and legally tenable.
Jarange began his indefinite hunger strike at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai on Friday morning, vowing not to leave till the demands of the Marathas were met.
The 43-year-old activist has been demanding a 10 per cent quota for Marathas under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. He wants all Marathas to be recognised as Kunbis — an agrarian caste included in the OBC category — which will make them eligible for reservation in government jobs and education.
Shinde said, "The government will not do any injustice to the Maratha community. But while addressing the issues, injustice will also not be done to other communities."
Hitting back at Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, the deputy CM said those attacking him must make their stand clear on the issue of reservation to the Maratha community.
Shinde said when he was the CM, his government was instrumental in giving 10 per cent reservation to Marathas, which benefited the community.
"We have done whatever we could for the Maratha community and will continue to do so," he said.
He pointed out that earlier efforts during Devendra Fadnavis's tenure in 2016-17 had also led to a reservation that was defended in the Supreme Court, until it was derailed by those who "opposed it in court".
"When the MVA was in power, they failed to protect that reservation. They neither fought for it nor took the necessary steps to defend it legally," Shinde alleged, calling their inaction a betrayal of the Maratha community.
"This failure cannot be forgotten. They were in power, and yet, they let it slip away," he said.
The deputy chief minister said the Shinde Committee has been actively tracing Kunbi records to identify eligible Marathas for reservation.
"Lakhs of records have already been found. Alongside this, schemes like SARTHI, Annasaheb Patil Corporation, hostel provisions, and employment initiatives are being actively implemented," he noted.
He further clarified that the Maratha community's benefits should not come at the cost of any other community, particularly the OBCs.
"We are committed to justice for all. Maratha reservation will not dilute OBC rights. No one's quota will be touched. We are working within the legal framework to ensure equitable justice," he assured.
In a veiled jibe at Thackeray, Shinde said leaders "who now shout in support of the Maratha cause were silent or absent when decisions were being made."
Referring to the Mahayuti government's performance, Shinde asserted, "We gave the reservation, and we stand by it. The MVA only played politics. They lack the moral and political right to criticise us now. It is their failure that forced the Maratha community into renewed agitation."
He further added that his government has created 5,000 jobs across three districts as part of its commitment to uplift the community.
"We do what we say. They (MVA) only made announcements but did nothing," he said.
Asserting that the government remains open to lawful and just suggestions, Shinde reiterated his administration's stance.
"Justice for the Maratha community will be ensured, but not at the cost of injustice to any other community."