Devendra Fadnavis: State committed to Maratha cause

Taking cognisance of Maratha protests across the state, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced that the state would find amicable solution to resolve the issue. He said the state was committed to giving reservation and creating employment opportunities for the youth from the community.

While addressing the gathering of Mathadi workers at Turbhe in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, he paid tribute to late Annasaheb Patil, founder of Mathadi workers union on his 83rd birth anniversary.

The Maratha community have come together to stage ‘leaderless’ mega rallies across the state to seek justice for a 14-year-old rape victim of Kopardi in Ahmednagar district.

The community has demanded reservation in education and in government jobs. They have also demanded amendment in the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act to stop its 'misuse against Marathas'. The Act grants SCs and STs legal protection against atrocities but Marathas claim they are being targeted with trumped up cases.

Mr Fadnavis further said the state planned to provide employment opportunities to 5 lakh youths from the Maratha community with skill development and finance.

More than 90 per cent of the Mathadi workers are from the Maratha community and originally hail from Satara, Sangli and rural Pune district.

The chief minister also assured housing for the Mathadi workers and said that he would include the Mathadis in the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna scheme. He announced the revival of Annasaheb Patil Arthik Vikas Mahamandal and announced `200 crore for implementation of various government schemes.

Meanwhile, activists of the ‘Sakal Maratha Samaj’, which has spearheaded most of theses protests that began on August 9, said the last protest march would be held in Mumbai city before Diwali. On Sunday, it was held in Pune which is predominantly has a Brahmin population.