Maratha reservation stir: CM Eknath Shinde calls all-party meet today as quota agitation escalates

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Tuesday urged activist Manoj Jarange to end his indefinite hunger strike.

Under the leadership of Sunil Tatkare, a meeting was held at Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's house in Devagiri, where it was unanimously decided to call a special session, where a decision regarding Maratha reservation should be taken.

A meeting was held regarding Maratha reservation where it was decided that we will talk to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and demand a special session of the assembly for reservation, said activist Manoj Jarange

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde called an all-party meeting tomorrow amid protests demanding Maratha reservation. NCP leader Sharad Pawar will also be present at the meet.

Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal said he too was receiving constant threats and abuses. "The Maratha quota movement went into the hands of criminals and now it is no longer under the control of its leaders," he said.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said, "The incident that happened in Beed yesterday can not be supported. The government is very positive in giving reservations to Marathas. Some decisions have been taken regarding it today as well...But some people are trying to spread violence and it will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken. Some people have been identified. We have received all the CCTV footage and the individuals visible in it have attempted to burn people alive. Under section 307 of the IPC, action will be taken..."

Pro-Maratha reservation agitators continued their protest on the Pune-Bengaluru highway near Navale bridge in Pune city.

Nandkumar Thakur, SP, Beed District said till now the police have registered 12 FIRs and arrested 55 accused. The situation is under control, he added.

"Section 144 has been imposed. Internet service will remain suspended. Additional police presence has been deployed," the officials said.

Traffic movement is partially restored on the Pune-Bengaluru highway near Navale bridge in Pune city. Pro-Maratha reservation protestors had torched tyres and blocked the road here.

As the agitation for Maratha reservation turned violent, Maharashtra leader of opposition Vijay Wadettiwar on Tuesday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of making a wrong decision and giving a false assurance to the community. The stir for quota for the Maratha community turned violent on Monday after protestors targeted the properties of politicians, and incidents of arson and vandalism were reported in Beed, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Dharashiv districts.

Three important decisions were taken today in the Maharashtra Cabinet meeting related to the Maratha reservation.

• Justice Sandeep Shinde's first report approved: Justice Shinde had examined the documents of Maratha Kunbi and Kunbi Maratha during the Nizam period of Marathwada.
• Backward Classes Commission now will investigate the educational and social backwardness of the Maratha community and will collect fresh empirical data.
• Three-member Justice Advisory Committee formed: The committee comprising Justice Maroti Gaikwad and Justice Sandeep Shinde under the chairmanship of Justice Dilip Bhosale will give legal advice to the government for giving Maratha reservation. 
   

On the Maratha reservation, former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray says, "A meeting was held yesterday by the Chief Minister... But both the Dy CMs were not present as per my information... One Dy CM is ill because of dengue... Another Dy CM went to campaign for the BJP in Raipur... When people are on the streets in your state, campaigning in other states is more important to you. Can such people give anything to society?... When I met Manoj Jarange Patil, I had requested him that he should not take extreme steps. Warriors like him are needed by the state and society...There is no doubt that the Maratha community should get their rights...."

The Maharashtra government has called for an all-party meeting on Wednesday (November 1) amid the ongoing agitation in the state. According to the information, the meeting will be held at Sahyadri Guest House at 10:30 am. 

(Inputs: Atul Singh) 

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met Governor Ramesh Bais and discussed the ongoing Maratha agitation in the state. According to sources, there was also a discussion between the two regarding calling a special session in Maharashtra. 

(Inputs: Atul Singh) 

Police have registered an FIR against a number of people for vandalising the office of BJP MLA Prashant Bamb in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district during the agitation. Some Maratha quota supporters, armed with wooden sticks, vandalised Bamb's office in Gangapur area on Monday. They damaged window panes and furniture inside the office of the ruling party legislator, an official said. 

The Police have arrested 49 people in connection with the violence in Maharashtra's Beed district during the ongoing agitation. A curfew was imposed in parts of Beed district on Monday evening after a series of incidents of violence and arson targeting properties of politicians. The situation is currently under control, Beed Superintendent of Police Nandkumar Thakur told the media. "Offences for rioting and putting lives in danger have been lodged in connection with the incidents. So far, 49 agitators have been arrested. There was no untoward incident at night, and the situation is under control," he said.

The Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) has suspended its bus services to Maharashtra after one of its buses was set on fire by protesters at Omerga in that state during the ongoing agitation for Maratha reservation. However, no one was injured in the incident, a transport department official said today. The state owned KKRTC bus was proceeding to Pune from Bhalki in Bidar when the incident occurred.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Chavan said that the Maratha movement is going on peacefully at various places in the state. On the other hand, the violent incidents that happened in some places are a matter of great concern. "It is suspected that some forces are trying to discredit the Maratha movement. Maratha society needs to be careful. The state government should take immediate notice of such incidents," he wrote on 'X'. 

Demanding reservation, Maratha agitators held a protest on the Dhule-Solapur highway in Sambhajinagar. This led to the disruption of traffic on the highway near Rohila Phata. Later, the police reached the spot and pacified the agitators to clear the way. 

Former State Minister Anil Deshmukh said the issue of the Maratha reservation is getting complicated day by day. The government had promised to resolve the issue within 30 days but it was not followed. "The government should take this issue seriously and take some concrete steps. The state government should immediately convene a one-day session to resolve this issue on priority. I also request Manoj Jarange Patil to take care of his health," the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader stated. 

Quota activist Manoj Jarange spoke to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on the phone. According to the information, the conversation lasted for about 24 minutes. Jarange is expected to give complete details of the conversation with CM during his press conference later in the day. Today is the seventh day of Jarange's hunger strike.

(Inputs: Dinesh Mourya, Sameer Bhaudas Bhise)

After the incident in Beed, today the police have beefed up the security of all the NCP leaders. Security of the new NCP office (Ajit Pawar faction) located in front of the Ministry in Mumbai has also been increased. Apart from this, police arrangements have also been deployed on the roads around the Chief Minister's bungalow.

Another MP resigned in support of the ongoing fierce protest in Maharashtra. Hemant Godse, MP from the Shinde faction from Nashik, sent his resignation to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Earlier on Monday, Hemant Patil, Shinde faction MP from Hingoli, had sent his resignation to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. 

(Inputs by Atul Singh) 

A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Beed district in central Maharashtra tendered his resignation from the legislative assembly in support of the Maratha reservation demand. Laxman Pawar, the MLA from Gevrai assembly segment, said the Maratha quota issue is pending for years. “The Maratha quota issue is pending for many years. I extend my support to the demand of the Maratha community.To support the cause, I am tendering my resignation,” Pawar said in a letter sent to legislative assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar.

A curfew has been imposed in Dharashiv district after incidents of violence during the ongoing agitation for Maratha reservation, according to the local administration. The assembly of more than five people is not allowed during the curfew period, as per an order issued on Monday night by district collector Sachin Ombase. The curfew is imposed under section 144 (2) of the CrPC in the district and will continue till further orders, an official release said. The order will be applicable to schools, colleges and shops in the district, it said.