Maratha quota stir: All parties support Shinde government on giving reservation

But in May 2021, the Supreme Court struck down the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, saying it breached the 50 per cent reservation limit.

A resolution appealing to maintain law and order in the state was passed during the all-party meeting called by  Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to address the protests over the Maratha reservation issue.  All parties stood with the state government on providing Maratha reservation.

According to  PTI,  Shinde will apprise opposition leaders of the government's plans to handle the situation and seek their support.  Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray has not been invited for the meeting.

"...Time should be given for this; everyone decided this. Whatever unfortunate incidents are happening, everyone has expressed displeasure about them...A committee has been formed of three retired judges... The Backward Class Commission is working on a war footing. Soon, decisions will be taken to give justice to the Maratha community...There is a need to give time, and the Maratha community too should keep patience...," said Shinde after the meeting.

He said activist Manoj Jarange should cooperate with government in ensuring quota for Maratha community. "...I request Manoj Jarange Patil to have faith in the efforts of the government...This protest has started taking a new direction...Common people should not feel insecure. I request all to maintain peace and cooperate with the state government...," said Shinde.

On October 31, Shinde spoke to activist Manoj Jarange Patil over the phone and assured a concrete decision.  Shinde also met Governer Ramesh Bais and briefed him about the situation. Patil has been on a hunger strike since 29 August.

Who are the Marathas?

The Marathas comprise a group of castes who are traditionally farmers and landowners.  According to reports, they make up around 33 percent of the population in the state. The community says it has been facing a lack of social and educational opportunity due to not enough representation in public institutions. The Marathas have been the politically dominant community in the state since 1960. Out of the 20 chief ministers in the state, 12 including the incumbent Eknath Shinde belonged to the community, according to Firstpost.  According to a report by Indian Express, the division of holdings and problems in the farm sector have led to a decline in the prosperity of middle- and lower middle-class Marathas.

Demand for reservation

The demand for a reservation led to mass agitations since 1981. According to Zee News, the demand became more intense after a 14-year-old Maratha girl was allegedly raped and murdered by three Dalit men in Ahmednagar in 2016.  The Marathas accused the Dalits of misusing the SC/ST Act to harass them. The Marathas demanded the scrapping or amendment of the Act. Under the Maratha Kranti Morcha (MKM), a silent rally was held.  In 2017 and 2018, the Marathas organised huge rallies across the state.

According to Indian Express, while the first phase of 58 rallies remained peaceful, the second phase of protests saw bloodshed and several alleged suicides.

Also read: Marathas leave Shinde-Fadnavis-Pawar government floundering with OBC quota demand

Current trigger

The Marathas want to be identified as Kunbis. This would entitle them to benefits under the quota for Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Jarange-Patil’s protest on September 1 took a violent turn. According to The Hindu, the police baton charged and fired tear gas shells to disperse a violent mob in the Antarwali Sarathi village. The local authorities could not shift Patil to a hospital. Fadnavis apologised for the police action.  According to Indian Express, the state government presented Patil with copies of a Government Resolution (GR) based on a Cabinet decision of September 7 to issue Kunbi caste certificates to certain members of the Maratha community. He was also given a GR from 2004 promising reservation to eligible Maratha-Kunbis and Kunbi-Marathas.

However, Patil said the new GR did not accept his demands and the 2004 GR was yet to be implemented.  On September 14, Patil called off his hunger strike after Shinde visited him. Patil gave the state government 40 days to meet his demands. But Patil accused the state government of inaction and continued his fast.