New committee may delay quota, says Opposition

Mumbai: As the state government comes up with another committee to look into legal process of the Maratha reservation bill, doubts are being raised on the government fulfilling its promise by December 1. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has indicated that the Maratha community will get reservation before December but now this new committee will look into the suggestions given by the previous committee and bring the bill before the House this week.

The Maharashtra government formed cabinet sub-committee to look after the Maratha reservation’s legal process. Six other ministers, including the secretary of general administration department are part of the committee and it will be headed by the revenue minister Chandrakant Patil. This committee will not need cabinet’s permission to make all the necessary action regarding the Maratha reservation.

However, the formation of committee has raised more doubts. “Only five days left for the session. This committee will have to see after entire legal process and also will have to talk to concerned people. Will that be done in just five days? In this case, Mr Fadnavis has given assurance of celebration on December 1. What will happen to that?” asked Opposition leader in council Dhananjay Munde.

Congress too has raised similar doubts. “The government is not ready to present the report in House. We are demanding it every day. Now it has formed a committee. People are obse-rving all their acts keenly. They should know that they can’t escape from their responsibilities,” said Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil.