Maratha Reservation : Amid the ongoing violent protests over Maratha reservation, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday said that Kunbi caste is mentioned in 11,530 old records and new certificates will be issued for them from Tuesday. Let us tell you, Kunbi caste is a community involved in agricultural work, which is classified under Other Backward Class (OBC) category in Maharashtra and they get the benefit of reservation in education and government jobs. The Chief Minister also said that a three-member committee of experts will be formed to advise the state government on the proposal to file a curative petition in the Supreme Court regarding the Maratha reservation issue.
Protest continues regarding reservation
Members of the Maratha community are protesting demanding reservation in government jobs and education under the Other Backward Class (OBC) category. The protest gained momentum when social activist Manoj Jarange sat on an indefinite fast from October 25 at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna as part of the second phase of the protest. On his appeal, many villagers have banned the entry of political party leaders into the village. Shinde told reporters here that the state government has already constituted a committee under the leadership of retired judge Sandeep Shinde to present a report on how to issue Kunbi caste certificate for the Maratha community.
Will be discussed in the cabinet meeting
Chief Minister Shinde said, the committee will present its report tomorrow i.e. on Tuesday and it will be discussed in the cabinet meeting. Regarding contacting Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange, Shinde said that a government representative will talk to him on Tuesday. He said that the state government needs some time and they should give us this time. Referring to the violence at some places, Shinde also said that Jarange should be careful during the reservation movement. The ongoing protest demanding reservation turned violent on Monday when a mob set fire to the house of an NCP MLA in Beed district.
Expert committee will be formed
Shinde said an expert committee will be formed which will advise the state government regarding the proposed curative petition. The state will file this curative petition in the Supreme Court. The expert committee will have three retired judges. He said that I do not want to go into details as to why the previous government failed to maintain Maratha reservation in the state. The Supreme Court has set aside the order upheld by the Bombay High Court. Maratha organizations are demanding reservation under OBC category. Jarange has argued that all Marathas should be given reservation as Kunbi.
Scrutiny of documents continues
The Justice Shinde committee is examining documents from the Nizam reign, genealogy, educational and revenue evidence, agreements signed during the Nizam-era and other related documents required for granting Kunbi certificates to members of the Maratha community in Marathwada. The Chief Minister said that this committee has examined 1.72 crore government documents and out of them, there are 11,530 records where Kunbi caste was mentioned in the old documents. He said, they will get new Kunbi caste certificates from tomorrow. I have given instructions to the Tehsildars accordingly.