Shambhuraj Desai
Desai, a member of the ministerial sub-committee on Maratha reservation, said 12 of Jarange’s 14 demands have already been met, while work on the remaining two is underway.
He said a rushed decision on the two pending demands of Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange could face legal hurdles and derail the reservation process altogether. We have explained this reality to Jarange,” Desai said. He said collectors have been directed to hold special camps for issuing caste certificates linked to the Kunbi records, while work on the Gazetteer-related demands is continuing. The minister noted that Jarange had earlier expressed faith in the state leadership and said govt remained committed to pursuing legal avenues to resolve the issue. In Kolhapur, Congress MP Shahu Chhatrapati said govt must honour the assurances given to the Maratha community but ensure that any decision is legally sustainable. The Congress MP said the Maratha community in Kolhapur supports Jarange’s demands and expects govt to move forward with a solution that can stand legal scrutiny.
Congress MP Shahu Chhatrapati, meanwhile, urged govt to fulfil the community’s demands in a manner that can withstand judicial scrutiny. “The Hyderabad Gazetteer-based process is already under challenge in court. Govt has ensured there is no stay on it. If we take a hasty decision on the remaining demands and the court stays it, everything will come to a standstill.
Kolhapur : State minister Shambhuraj Desai on Monday appealed to the Maratha community for patience.