YEARS
Addressing a press conference, the Union minister said that the state government has already provided 10 per cent reservation to the Maratha community. According to the law, we have given the reservation, Danve said.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union minister Raosaheb Danve on Wednesday criticised quota activist Manoj Jarange after he announced to contest the upcoming Maharashtra elections. Danve challenged Jarange to field 288 Maratha candidates in the election if he is not satisfied with the reservation given to his community. Earlier on Tuesday, Jarange had asked the Maratha community to be ready for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections and said they have no option but to gain political power if they want reservation in government jobs and education.
Addressing a press conference, the Union minister said the state government has already provided 10 per cent reservation to the Maratha community. According to the law, we have given the reservation. But if Jaranghe is not satisfied, he should field his candidates in all the 288 assembly constituencies in the state, Danve said. Expressing confidence that the Marathas will come to power in the state after the elections in October, Jaranghe said Marathas, Muslims and Dalits will bring about a significant change.
The activists have been demanding reservation for the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category though the state government enacted a law in February to provide them 10 per cent quota under a separate category. However, OBC leaders, including Cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal, have opposed any cut in the existing quota for backward communities. Danve further said that we are also of the opinion that the Maratha community should get reservation. But it should not be given at the cost of others’ quota.
Other News
