Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis initiated an urgent meeting to address the Maratha agitation. The core focus of the meeting, held at Varsha Niwas, centered on the Maratha reservation issue. Attendees included Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, chairman of the Maratha reservation sub-committee, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, along with retired Justice Sandeep Shinde, the Shinde Committee’s head.
Today’s discussions concentrated on the Hyderabad and Satara Gazettes, and the feasibility of their implementation. Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and the Advocate General previously met at the Royal Stone bungalow to discuss the legal intricacies surrounding the gazettes.
Following the meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence, the government plans to submit a proposal to Manoj Jarange Patil, which the Shinde Committee will deliver. Ajit Pawar’s presence has heightened the meeting’s significance.
The state government is currently drafting a Government Resolution (GR) addressing the reservation for the Maratha community. This draft will be reviewed by the Maharashtra Advocate General before its implementation.
The Maratha movement is now in its fourth day, with Manoj Jarange Patil undertaking a waterless fast. A new stage is under construction, offering protection from the rain and muddy conditions, providing space for the Maratha activists. This indicates that the Maratha reservation movement could extend. If a strong government proposal isn’t forthcoming, the Maratha Coordination Committee is preparing for a prolonged struggle.
‘Bhakri Thecha’ is being distributed to more than 50,000 individuals gathered at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai, near CST Railway Station, Metro Cinema, and Fashion Street. The bhakri, made from bajra and jowar, has a shelf life of 4-5 days, while thecha is prepared from chili and coconut. Additionally, a new group of 10,000 activists is arriving in Mumbai from Marathwada.
In response to the large crowd, the BMC administration has provided facilities such as toilets, water, and shade. Stone grit has been added to the muddy areas to prevent further mud accumulation. The rain continues intermittently.