Maratha quota protests: What steps has Maha govt taken to quell the agitation?

As the Maratha quota protests took a violent turn, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde convened an all-party meeting in Mumbai today (1 November). Earlier in the day, agitators demanding Maratha reservation vandalised Maharashtra cabinet minister Hasan Mushrif’s SUV in south Mumbai, the police said. Three people were detained by the Marine Drive police in the incident, PTI reported citing an official. Several parts of Maharashtra have been witnessing violent agitations since Monday (30 October) when protestors burnt down the houses of two legislators and a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) office, prompting authorities to issue prohibitory orders. What is the Maharashtra government doing to quell the Maratha quota protests? Let’s take a closer look. All-party meeting CM Shinde held an all-party meeting to discuss the demand for Maratha reservation in education and government jobs. NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, senior Congress leaders Ashok Chavan and Nana Patole, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leaders Ambadas Danve and Anil Parab, NCP (Ajit Pawar camp) leader Sunil Tatkare, and leaders from other parties such as MNS, PWP, JD(U) and RPI marked their presence at the huddle, reported Hindustan Times (HT).

According to Indian Express, all parties passed a resolution to maintain law and order in the state. The Congress questioned the Maharashtra government for not including the Centre for resolving the issue. After the meet, CM Shinde said his government is in favour of the Maratha quota, reported PTI. Steps taken by Maharashtra government Amid increasing pressure over the Maratha reservation issue, the Shinde-led government issued a government resolution on Tuesday (31 October) asking the State Backward Class Commission to collect empirical data to examine the social and educational backwardness of Marathas. The Cabinet on Monday (30 October) also decided to form a panel of three retired judges — Justice Dilip Bhosale, Justice Maroti Gaikwad, and Justice Sandeep Shinde – which will assist the state government in extending the reservation as well as with its curative petition in the Supreme Court, reported Indian Express. According to ThePrint, the Maharashtra government filed a curative petition on the issue in the apex court on Monday. “The state government is serious about giving reservation to the Maratha community and is working on war footing. We are working towards presenting a case in the Supreme Court that will stand in the court of law and for that, we are working round the clock,” CM Shinde reportedly said after the Cabinet meet on Monday. He also announced that the Maharashtra Cabinet has okayed a preliminary report by a committee seeking to give Kunbi certificates to Marathas. Kunbis come under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category in Maharashtra. [caption id=“attachment_13328752” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Maratha Kranti Morcha members burn tyres and other items during a protest on Pune-Solapur Highway on 31 October. PTI[/caption] As per the Maharashtra chief minister, the five-member committee led by Justice Sandeep Shinde had checked 1.73 crore caste documents from the Nizam era, out of which 11,530 Kunbi records were found. “The committee is currently examining these historical records and references to Kunbi as a caste. Many of these writings are in Urdu or the Modi language, so the state government is translating them into Marathi with the help of experts. After translation, these documents will be digitised, and Kunbi certificates will be issued to individuals whose genealogy references Kunbi,” BJP minister Chandrakant Patil was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express (TNIE). ALSO READ: Maratha quota protests have intensified in Maharashtra. Here’s why Maharashtra CM talks to protesting Maratha activist Maharashtra CM Shinde dialled Manoj Jarange-Patil, a Maratha activist who first went on a hunger strike for the Maratha reservation in August. He announced last week that he is resuming his indefinite hunger strike after a deadline he set for the Maharashtra government to implement the Maratha reservation passed, as per ThePrint. Jarange-Patil has emerged as the face of the Maratha quota stir. Eknath Shinde’s phone call to the activist came as the recent Maratha reservation protests turned violent in many places. According to Indian Express, the Maharashtra CM assured the Maratha Kranti Morcha leader of his government’s commitment to bring reservations for the Maratha community, but, added that he wanted to make sure it passed the legal battle. He also urged Jarange-Patil to ensure the protests were carried out peacefully. The Maratha activist, who had been drinking water, said on Tuesday that he would go on a “strict hunger strike” unless the Shinde government announced a special Assembly session on the issue by Wednesday, reported ThePrint. Jarange-Patil is demanding Kunbi certificates for all Marathas. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has called on the BJP-led Central government to resolve the Maratha reservation issue . “This can only be resolved in the Lok Sabha. I have been saying this and I say this again — the government should call a special session of Parliament (to resolve the issue),” the former Maharashtra chief minister reportedly said Tuesday. “If a special session of the state legislature is required it should be convened," he added. Latest on Maratha quota agitation  A number of lawmakers from different political parties staged a protest near the Maharashtra secretariat ‘Mantralaya’ on Wednesday to show support for Maratha reservation, reported PTI. While the curfew has been lifted in Beed, internet services remain shut and prohibitory orders are in place. The state-run bus services have been suspended in five Marathwada districts, reported HT. Internet services also remain cut off in Jalna district after properties of NCP and BJP MLAs were torched or vandalised. Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has said violence would not be tolerated, warning that those involved in torching the houses would face a case under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Meanwhile, the police have beefed up the security at the Nagpur residence of Fadnavis amid the ongoing agitation. With inputs from agencies