Mumbai: Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil on Friday sent out a strong warning to certain leaders, who, he claimed, are provoking the Maratha community against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, and said such attempts will never yield any result.
“We have intelligence reports on certain leaders who are funding press conferences. The leaders, who want to create unrest in the community in an election year, have been identified. We request them to stop such activities,” the minister said.
Mr. Patil referred to a last week’s press conference at Y.B. Chavan Pratishthan where organisers tore the copy of government resolutions announcing welfare schemes for the community.
The minister refuted allegations that the government has not taken steps for the betterment of Marathas, who have been demanding reservations in jobs and education, and had organised silent marches across the state.
Mr. Patil heads a Cabinet sub-committee formed to look into the demands raised by Marathas. “The government wholeheartedly supports the demand of reservations. But since the matter is sub-judice, we have announced a number of initiatives for the employment, education, and skill development of the youth from the community,” he said.
“As there is nothing left to complain or score political points, various leaders from the community are trying to instigate community members. The government is keeping a close watch on them,” Mr. Patil said, claiming 99% of the community is happy with the government.
Among the schemes for Marathas, the government has increased the ceiling on family income from ₹1 lakh to ₹8 lakh to avail of facilities granted to the economically backward class (EBC) people. Colleges have been asked to admit EBC students whose family income is less than ₹8 lakh by charging only half the fees and the government will pay the remaining amount.
