CM Shinde to hold key meet, Here’s what you need to know

On Monday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will convene a meeting of the state’s Cabinet sub-committee on Maratha Reservation to discuss the community’s concerns following a police lathi-charge during quota demonstrations in the Jalna area.

Devendra Fadnavis also met with Manoj Jarange Patil, the leader of the present agitation, to discuss the Maratha community’s concerns. Earlier, Fadnavis told Patil over the phone that those responsible for the Jalna incident would be held accountable.

Meanwhile, the Maratha Kranti Morcha (MKM) is staging a day-long bandh across the state to condemn the lathi-charging of demonstrators in Jalna during their demand for Maratha quota.

“The government had called us to Mumbai for talks but we do not feel that there is any need to come to Mumbai now because a govt delegation led by Minister Girish Mahajan met us and discussed with us. Whatever we had to say, we have told them. We have made it clear to them that the government will have to announce the Maratha reservation in Maharashtra within 2 days, and will also have to implement it,” he told the reporters.

Speaking about the incident, he said, “In November 2014, when the coalition government was in power under the leadership of then CM Devendra Fadnavis, the government announced the Maratha reservation. The high court also upheld the Maratha Reservation decision taken by the government. But the supreme court took a different decision.”