A crucial meeting regarding the Maratha reservation was convened by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The meeting, held at Varsha residence, included key figures such as Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, the head of the Maratha reservation sub-committee, and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. Justice Sandeep Shinde (Retd.), the chairman of the Shinde Committee, also participated.
The focus of today’s meeting is a detailed discussion of the Hyderabad Gazette and the Satara Gazette. Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil had previously met with the Advocate General at the Royal Stone bungalow on Sunday to discuss the legal aspects of implementing these gazettes.
Following the meeting at the Chief Minister’s Varsha residence, the government is expected to present a proposal to Manoj Jarange Patil. This proposal will be conveyed to Jarange Patil by the Shinde Committee. The significance of the meeting has further increased with Ajit Pawar’s presence.
The state government is currently drafting a GR (Government Resolution) concerning the Maratha community’s reservation. This draft will be sent to the Advocate General of Maharashtra for review and subsequent implementation.
The Maratha movement has entered its fourth day. Jarange Patil has initiated a waterless fast. A new stage is being constructed in front of Jarange Patil’s stage to provide shelter from rain and mud and to accommodate Maratha activists. This indicates that the movement for Maratha reservation is expected to be prolonged, and if the state government fails to present a concrete proposal soon, the Maratha Coordination Committee is prepared for a long haul.
More than 50,000 people have gathered at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai, near CST Railway Station, Metro Cinema, and Fashion Street, to receive ‘Bhakri Thecha’. Bhakri Thecha, which is made of bajra and jowar, can be preserved for 4-5 days, while thecha, made of chili and coconut, is prepared. A new contingent of 10,000 activists is also arriving in Mumbai from Marathwada.
In response to the growing crowd at Azad Maidan, the BMC administration has arranged for toilets, water, and shade. The muddy areas of the ground have been covered with stone grit to prevent mud. The rain continues intermittently.
