Maratha quota: Uddhav Thackeray appeals to PM Modi for help

Mumbai, May 11: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking that the Marathas be allowed reservation in jobs and education through inclusion into the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes or SEBC.

A delegation of the ruling coalition leaders led by Thackeray also met the governor days after the Supreme Court struck down the quota in education and government jobs for Marathas in Maharashtra.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government will also approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue, Thackeray told reporters later.

The MVA -- which has often been at loggerheads with the BJP-led Union government -- hoped for a decision on the issue soon as the law granting quota to the community had been backed by all parties including the BJP, he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and ministers Ashok Chavan, Jayant Patil, Balasaheb Thorat, Eknath Shinde, Dilip Walse Patil and state Congress chief Nana Patole were part of the delegation.

The Supreme Court on May 5 held the Maharashtra law granting quota to Marathas as unconstitutional. The majority ruling also said that states cannot decide the list of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) and only the President has the power to notify it.

"The verdict says the power to grant reservation is with the President, Centre and not states. So we met the governor, requesting him to convey our sentiments to the President and Centre. He (Koshyari) said he will convey our sentiments," Thackeray said.

"We have also decided to meet the honourable prime minister as soon as possible," he added.

He has also written a letter to the prime minister on the issue, Thackeray informed.

Asked what measures the state government will take to give relief to the Maratha community till the quota issue is resolved, Thackeray said a decision will be taken soon.

He also thanked the Maratha community for "exhibiting sensibility" over the issue.

On his strained relations with Koshyari, Thackeray said, "We are not enemies of each other. We respect him and will continue to respect."