New Delhi (Agency): Vijay Wadettiwar, Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra assembly, has proposed the creation of a separate quota for the Maratha community. He asserts that he opposes the idea of sharing the existing quota designated for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) with the Maratha community. Wadettiwar, speaking to reporters in Nagpur, stated his willingness to support an increased quota limit to accommodate the Maratha community without encroaching on the existing OBC quota.
Wadettiwar emphasized, “A separate quota for the Maratha community can be created. However, I am against sharing the existing quota for OBCs with the Maratha community.” He believes that the Maharashtra government can address the Maratha community’s demand for reservation in education and employment by expanding the quota limit.
He also criticized the process of issuing Kunbi caste certificates to the Maratha community, suggesting that the government should focus on increasing the quota limit instead. In response to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s claims that the previous government did not take adequate steps for Maratha reservation, Wadettiwar labeled these statements as contradictory and misleading.
Wadettiwar expressed skepticism regarding the committee’s efforts to issue Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas from the Marathwada region, asserting that such kind of reservation cannot be granted. He also accused the state government of attempting to cover up the unrest stemming from the police’s use of force against Maratha quota protesters in Jalna.
Suggesting a potential solution, Wadettiwar proposed that the Union government could establish a separate quota for Marathas similar to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota. He explained that if the Union government takes this decision in the upcoming Parliament session, the issue of Maratha reservation could be resolved by the end of September.
In 2018, the Maharashtra government provided reservation in jobs and education for the Maratha community under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. However, the Supreme Court invalidated this reservation in May 2021, citing the 50 percent ceiling on total reservations among other reasons.
