Maratha Quota Violence: Fadnavis Apologises on Behalf of Maha Govt, Says Lathi-charge Was 'Not Right'

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday apologised on behalf of the state government after receiving flak over the lathi-charge incident on Maratha quota protesters in Jalna district. After meeting Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the BJP leader said action will be taken against those who are responsible for it.

News agency ANI quoted Fadnavis as saying to reporters after the meeting, “Lathicharge by Police was not right… I am apologising on behalf of the Government. CM has said that the action will be taken against those who are responsible for it.”

Fadnavis also said the lathi-charge order was not given by any top official to the Jana Police last week. “Such decisions (use of police force etc.) are taken at the local level,” Fadnavis, who handles the Home Department, said.

Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut had claimed that the lathi-charge order was given on a phone call made from the office of the chief minister and state home minister.

Senior NCP leader Anil Deshmukh has also claimed that police lathi-charged protesters in Jalna district after a phone call was made from the Maharashtra home ministry.

Meanwhile, Shinde on Monday said a committee will submit its report within a month on how to issue Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas from Marathwada region. Kunbis (the community associated with agriculture) are grouped under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category in Maharashtra.

“A committee was set up and asked to submit a report within a month on how to issue Kunbi certificates to the Maratha community from Marathwada. The state government has taken this issue seriously and we are working to find an amicable solution,” he told reporters.

Marathas have been demanding the reservation in education and government jobs. Reservation in jobs and education provided by the then Maharashtra government to the Maratha community under the socially and educationally backward category in 2018 was quashed by the Supreme Court in May 2021, citing the 50 per cent ceiling on total reservations among other grounds.

“I have directed officials to study the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Maratha quota and recommend solutions. We need to establish that the Maratha community is backward,” Shinde said.

Police baton charged and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse a violent mob in Antarwali Sarathi village in Jalna district on Friday after protesters allegedly refused to let authorities shift a man on hunger strike for Maratha quota to hospital.

Several persons, including 40 police personnel, were injured and more than 15 state transport buses were set ablaze in violence.

(with inputs from PTI)