A delegation of the Maharashtra government led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, June 8 to discuss various issues including Maratha and OBC reservation, and Cyclone Tauktae relief measures.
According to reports, CM Uddhav Thackeray arrived in Delhi at 7 am and is scheduled to meet PM Modi at 11 am. The CM is likely to reach Maharashtra Sadan around 9:45 am, following which he will meet the PM and then head back to Mumbai.
On Monday, June 7, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and deputy CM Ajit Pawar had a brief with Thackeray where it was decided that Chairman of Maratha reservation committee Ashok Chavan and chief secretary Sitaram Kunte will also be a part of CM’s delegation.
This is the first time ever since the MVA government came into power in Maharashtra in November 2019 that the former allies, Thackeray and Modi will meet in person.
This development comes over a month after the Supreme Court (SC) squashed a 2018 law providing reservation to the Maratha community in jobs and education in Maharashtra.
Also Read: Maratha community can avail benefits under 10% EWS quota
Thackeray had last month had written to PM Modi to take steps to declare the Maratha community in the state as Socially and Educationally Backward (SEBC) to enable them to claim the reservation in education and public employment at least to 12 per cent and 13 per cent respectively.
His request followed a Supreme Court order last week that struck down the "unconstitutional" quota.
It has come to light that Uddhav Thackeray’s visit to the national capital comes after Shiv Sena’s mouthpiece Saamana said in its editorial on May 31 that the battle for Maratha reservation will be fought in Delhi. It said it becomes necessary to knock on the doors of Delhi on the issue of the Maratha reservation. The editorial referring to the Supreme Court's observation and said only the central government has the right to make such law regarding the reservation.
The five-judge bench pointed out the 2018 law that allowed for quota for Marathas had pushed reservation over the current 50 per cent cap.
On May 31, the Maharashtra government extended EWS (economically weaker section) benefits - including 10 per cent reservation - to the Maratha community,
The quota will be applicable from the period of interim stay on September 9, 2020, to the final verdict by the Supreme Court on May 5 this year, the government order had said.
Also Read: Central Govt. makes the move; filed review petition on Maratha reservation
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