Thursday, Apr 25, 2024 | Last Update : 09:40 PM IST
Dignitaries firm on reservation
Chattrapati Shahu Maharaj, Jaysingarao Pawar and Pratapsingh Jadhav were absent though they were invited for the meeting.
Mumbai: Several prominent personalities belonging to the Maratha community on Thursday demanded that the state government take legal steps for providing reservation to Marathas in a manner that it is upheld in any court.
The personalities, along with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, appealed to the Maratha community not to indulge in violence or self-harm for the cause. Mr Fadnavis also discussed the Maratha quota issue with party MLAs and asked them to convince people about steps taken in this regard by the government.
In the backdrop of the stir, Mr Fadnavis called a meeting of prominent personalities from the community to make them aware of the efforts taken by the government.
Noted actors Sayaji Shinde and Amol Kolhe, well-known art director Nitin Chandrakant Desai, Shirdi temple trust chairman and builder Suresh Haware, and water conservation activist Popatrao Pawar were among the 22 prominent personalities who attended the meeting. Revenue minister Chandrakant Patil, education minister Vinod Tawde and other ministers, too, were present at the meeting.
Mr Fadnavis held deliberations for nearly three hours to discuss the quota stir. He said, “Various short-term and long-term measures to provide relief to the community were discussed in the meeting. Everybody present gave valuable suggestions. We put forth the steps being taken by our government,” said Mr Fadnavis. He said that his government was committed to granting reservation to the Maratha community which stood legal scrutiny.
Mr Kolhe, known for his portrayal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj earlier and currently as Sambhaji in a television series, said, “I could feel Mr Fadnavis’ genuine concern over the issue and his positive approach towards the welfare of the community.”
Chattrapati Shahu Maharaj, Jaysingarao Pawar and Pratapsingh Jadhav were absent though they were invited for the meeting. Shahu Maharaj criticised Mr Fadnavis, saying that the latter should take steps for reservation and that no output would come from such a meeting.
