Despite Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis setting a deadline of November-end for completing the legal formalities for granting quotas to Marathas, community organisations refused to be placated and added they will continue with their stir in a peaceful manner.
"How can the chief minister claim that the formalities will be completed by November without having the report of the Maharashtra State Backward Classes Commission in hand," questioned Virendra Pawar, coordinator of the Maratha Kranti Morcha. Pawar added that Fadnavis, in his special appeal broadcast on Sunday, had not addressed the demand for criminal cases against protestors to be withdrawn.
"Many of our boys have been booked under stringent sections and are in jail. How can we hold discussions with the government then?" he asked, stating that Fadnavis had also not spoken about doing away with lacunae in the other schemes announced for the welfare of the community.
Pawar claimed that around 20 people had died or committed suicide during the quota protests and added that the state government had not announced any compensation for their kin.
"The sit in protest at Parli (in Beed district) will continue till reservations are granted. Our protest, including the state-wide blockade of roads, will take place as planned on August 9. However, based on an appeal by (Satara royal and NCP MP) Udayanraje Bhosale, this will be done in a peaceful manner," he explained.
Vinod Pokharkar, another coordinator of the MKM, said the state government had not fulfilled its promise to set up district-level committees to review the implementation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and prevent its misuse. Students from economically-weaker categories were also not getting the benefit of 50 per cent fee concessions. Hostels for Maratha students in all districts had also not been established.
Kedar Suryavanshi, coordinator of the MKM, sought written undertakings from the state over the withdrawal of criminal cases against protestors and grant of Rs 50 lakh to the kin of those who had committed suicide.
Meanwhile, MLC and Maratha leader Vinayak Mete, who heads the ShivaSangram outfit, said they had met Fadnavis on Monday and sought that the mandate of the Annasaheb Patil Arthik Vikas Mahamandal be changed to allow it to grant loans and interest subsidies to only Maratha and Kunbi youth. He added that Fadnavis had conceded the demand.
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