Exclusive: Eknath Shinde Says His Government Delivered Maratha Quota As Promised

In an exclusive interview with Oneindia, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde took a swipe at the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, asserting that while his government delivered on the promise of Maratha quota," the MVA used the community for political gains and deprived it of reservation.

Speaking to Oneindia's Pankaj Mishra, Shinde said the opposition should support the government's decision to grant reservation to the Maratha community instead of finding faults with it. He emphasised that the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP alliance in Maharashtra went the extra mile to grant 10 percent reservation to the Maratha community.

"They only used the Maratha community for their own benefit and kept them deprived of reservation. But our government did it," Shinde told Oneindia. "I made a promise in the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that our government will give 10 percent reservation to Marathas."

Shinde revealed his government convened special meetings, reconstituted the backward commission, and conducted an extensive survey, which proved that the Maratha community was socially and economically backward.

"We did it. Those who had to do this, did nothing for years. But now that we have given the reservation, they are claiming it wouldn't survive," he said, targeting the opposition MVA.

The Chief Minister urged the opposition to support the government's decision instead of casting doubts. "The Maratha community should benefit from it. If you feel it would not survive, tell us the reasons. Then I'll tell you why it will continue. Many people went to court, but no court has given any stay, and the Maratha reservation is in force today," Shinde asserted.

Watch the full interview on Oneindia YouTube page.