Maratha quota ruling sparks political hearth: Uddhav factors to Centre, BJP to state

THE SUPREME COURT’s order to quash the legislation granting reservation to the Maratha group in admissions and authorities jobs Wednesday triggered a political firestorm in Maharashtra with the MVA authorities demanding an “urgent decision” from the Centre and the Opposition BJP accusing the ruling coalition of not pursuing the matter severely in court docket.
Describing the ruling as “unfortunate”, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray stated the apex court docket dominated that the Union Government and the President have the correct to take a choice on reservation. “In a way, this is guidance to Chhatrapati Shivaji’s Maharashtra. So with folded hands, I request the Prime Minister and the President to take an urgent decision on the Maratha reservation,” he stated.
Thackeray stated that earlier, the Centre had taken fast choices on the Shah Bano case, in reference to the Atrocities Act, and the abrogation of Article 370. “For that, it made necessary amendments in the Constitution. Now, the same promptness should be shown regarding Maratha reservation,” he stated.
Ruling allies Congress and NCP additionally demanded motion from the Centre and accused the earlier BJP authorities within the state of “cheating” the individuals. However, BJP leaders, together with former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, hit again and accused the MVA authorities of not pursuing the matter severely. BJP state chief Chandrakant Patil referred to as it the “darkest day” in lifetime of Marathas.
Thackeray stated Maharashtra determined to provide reservation “to protect the self-esteem of the Maratha community”, following an “outcry from the deprived section”. Taking a dig on the Centre, he stated that BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sambhaji Raje has been searching for an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Maratha reservation since final yr. “Why did the PM not give him an appointment? I am asking this question as the PM has the right to decide on the Maratha reservation,” he stated.

Congress chief and Public Works Department Minister Ashok Chavan, who heads the state sub-committee on Maratha reservation, criticised former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for passing the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act in 2018 with out “due rights”.
“The Union government’s 102nd amendment had taken away decisions (read powers) of awarding reservation to the Maratha community because of which the erstwhile Fadnavis government framed the SEBC Act, which has been quashed by the Supreme Court,” Chavan stated.
The SEBC (Socially and Educationally Backward Classes) Act of Maharashtra was enacted in 2018 to grant reservation to individuals of the Maratha group within the state in jobs and admissions. “Passing a law when you had no such right amounts to misleading the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and the council by Fadnavis as the then CM. This amounts to cheating the people by giving them false information,” Chavan stated.
The NCP stated the Centre ought to reinstate the state’s rights to grant reservations. “The state government is ready to submit a recommendation of awarding reservation to the Maratha community… Either the Union government reinstate the state’s rights to grant reservations through the court as assured on the floor of Parliament, or it should set up a backward (classes) commission,” NCP spokesperson and Minister of Minority Development Nawab Malik stated.

Criticising the state authorities, Leader of Opposition Fadnavis stated: “The MVA government did not pursue it seriously. There were times when lawyers expressed ignorance over some information. In such matters, the state government should have played a proactive role and furnished significant information to substantiate its case.”
BJP state president Patil stated: “The community’s struggle for reservation is shattered by the verdict. The state government is responsible for failing the Marathas.”