Maratha Quota Demand: Crucial Cabinet Meeting Today

Former Rajya Sabha member Sambhaji Chhatrapati urged the Maharashtra government to take a decisive stance on the Maratha reservation demand in today's cabinet meeting, highlighting the urgency due to activist Manoj Jarange's hunger strike. The opposition is also called to question the government's approach to the reservation and whether it will sustain.

Former Rajya Sabha member Sambhaji Chhatrapati on Monday called on the Maharashtra government to make a decisive move regarding the Maratha reservation issue in the cabinet meeting scheduled for today.

Chhatrapati, who established the 'Swarajya' outfit in 2022, stressed the need for opposition parties to interrogate the government's plans to provide the reservation. He was addressing reporters in Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district after meeting activist Manoj Jarange, currently on his sixth hunger strike since September 16, advocating for the Maratha quota.

In February, the Maharashtra legislature had passed a bill granting a 10 per cent reservation for the Maratha community in education and government jobs. However, Jarange demands the inclusion of Marathas in the OBC (Other Backward Classes) category. Leading the protests, Jarange is pushing for OBC certificates recognizing all Kunbis (agriculturists) and their kin as Marathas.

(With inputs from agencies.)