Agitation a right in democracy but protesters must also maintain dignity: Eknath Shinde on Maratha protest

Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde is seen as an influential Maratha leader in the state. (File: PTI)

Refuting allegations of providing tacit support to the Maratha reservation protests that put the Mahayuti government in a spot, Shiv Sena supremo and Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said that while holding an agitation is a right in any democracy, there are some levels of decency that need to be maintained by the protesters as well.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Shinde, whom Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sanjay Raut accused of supporting the recent Maratha agitation in Mumbai, said he does not pay much attention to the particular leader since "his only job is to create trouble" for him.

"What does he (Sanjay Raut) have to do with it? I don’t talk about him. He abuses Modiji, writes and publishes against him and Amit bhai in Saamana, and here he talks good about about the local people, so what can I say?" Shinde said.

Speaking on the Maratha reservation protest led by Manoj Jarange-Patil in Mumbai recently, Shinde said the issue has been settled for now and that any further demands would have to be dealt with within the framework of the law.

"We can't fulfill all their demands and things need to be done within the framework of the law. So we issued a GR (Government Resolution) on the Hyderabad Gazette, through which they will get Kunbi certificates. They are saying that through the Gazette, all the people (Marathas) of Marathwada will get OBC certificates but that's not how it works," he said.

Shinde also dismissed murmurs of lack of communication within the government during the initial days of the agitation and said that both Deputy CMs -- Ajit Pawar and he -- held three to four meetings before Jarange Patil arrived in Mumbai and the GR was issued.

Responding to apprehensions that the GR issued will not yield any benefit and that it is a version of the GR issued in 2024, Shinde said that Jarange Patil read the GR in front of everyone and also consulted experts and advocates and eventually withdrew the hunger strike and agitation only after they accepted it.

Shinde further said that the government has made the process of issuing these certificates a easier now and also assured that there would be no loss to OBCs and their reservation will not be affected.

"The government’s stance has always been that if we are giving (reservation benefits) to someone, no other community should suffer any loss. There are different people, agitators, and they want different things. The government will act according to the rule of law. It cannot be as per someone’s feeling. They will definitely benefit from this GR," he said.

Shinde further rejected the idea that the Maratha reservation would polarize voters on Maratha and non-Maratha lines and damage the BJP during the upcoming municipal elections.

"Local elections depend on the candidate, not the party. This agitation that happened, its result will also not have any effect on the elections," Shinde said, adding that all three Mahayuti constituents will contest the upcoming local body polls, including the BMC, together in an alliance.

"Throughout Maharashtra, we are all going to fight as the Mahayuti alliance — from Mumbai to everywhere. The elections should happen by December," he said.