Ashok Chavan asks Maharashtra govt to list steps taken on Maratha quota demand

Former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan on Sunday asked the state government to list the steps it has taken in the last month regarding the Maratha quota demand.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has called on the state government to provide a list of steps taken in the past month regarding the Maratha quota demand. The senior Congress leader made the demand on Sunday, October 22nd, following the suicide of a Maratha quota activist in Nanded district.

Maratha Activist Manoj Jarange's Ultimatum

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange had given the state government an ultimatum of 40 days to award quota to Marathas, which expires on Tuesday, October 25th. On Sunday, Jarange threatened to widen the scope of the stir and launch an indefinite fast from October 25th, seeking reservation for Marathas in government jobs and education under the OBC category.

State Government's Response

The state government has issued an advertisement in prominent newspapers listing various schemes being implemented for the Maratha community. It also mentioned the benefits being given to the Maratha community in jobs and student admission under the EWS (Economically Weaker Section) quota.

Maratha Quota Activist Sunil Kawale's Suicide

On October 19th, the body of Maratha quota activist Sunil Kawale was found hanging from a lamp post along a flyover in Mumbai's Bandra area. He had left behind a suicide note seeking a quota for the community.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Statement

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said his government is committed to giving reservations in jobs and education to the Maratha community. He urged the youth not to take extreme steps like suicide.

The Maratha quota issue has been a long-standing demand, and the recent suicides of Maratha quota activists have brought it back into the spotlight. The state government has taken some steps to address the issue, but it remains to be seen whether these measures will be enough to satisfy the demands of the Maratha community.