Maratha outfit protests in Maharashtra's Pune over quota issue

Pune, Sep 27 A pro-Maratha organisation stagedprotests outside the offices of all key political parties inMaharashtras Pune district on Sunday over the issue ofreservation for the community in jobs and education.

Some leaders of the Maratha Kranti Morcha (MKM), whichis heading the quota agitation for the Maratha community, saidthere is a marked difference in the relief announced by theMaharashtra government and the ground reality.

The state government on Tuesday announced severalmeasures, including giving Marathas benefits meant for theeconomically weaker section (EWS), in the light of the SupremeCourt staying the implementation of quota in jobs andeducation for the community.

However, MKM members on Sunday staged protests outsideoffices of the NCP, Congress, Shiv Sena and BJP here, raisedslogans in favour of Marathas and said the government shouldstand firm to provide reservation to the community.

After the state government announced the reliefmeasures, MKM convener Rajendra Kondhre on Wednesday said,”Even if the measures announced by the state government lookwelcoming superficially, some of the announcements are oldand are applicable for other open categories.” In the sops announced on Tuesday, the government alsodecided to offer jobs in the Maharashtra State Road TransportCorporation to heirs of those who lost lives during theMaratha quota protests.

It said action will be taken on proposals in thisregard within a month of their submission.

The Maratha community members will get benefitsannounced by the state government till the Supreme Courtvacates the stay on quota, an official statement said.

The state government on Monday filed an applicationbefore the larger bench of the Supreme Court, seeking tovacate the apex courts stay on implementing the quota. PTICORGK GK

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