Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday held a meeting with 22 prominent members from the Maratha community to discuss the ongoing agitation over reservation.
After the meeting, Mr. Fadnavis said his government is committed to giving reservation to the Maratha community, which stands legal scrutiny.
A joint appeal by the members and the ministers who attended the meeting was issued for exercising restraint and maintaining peace.
Justifying the demand of quota, the appeal urged the pro-quota protesters not to indulge in violence or to commit suicide. “Immediate steps should be taken to give reservation to the community, which will stand legal scrutiny.”
Intellectual and author A. H. Salunkhe, actors Sayaji Shinde and Amol Kolhe, art director Nitin Desai, Shirdi temple trust chairman Suresh Haware, and water conservation activist Popatrao Pawar were among those who were present at the meeting.
Mr. Fadnavis held deliberations with artistes, writers, and intellectuals from the community for nearly three hours. “Various short-term and long-term measures to provide relief to the community were discussed. Everybody present gave valuable suggestions. We put forward to them the steps being taken by our government,” he said.
Mr. Kolhe who is known for his portrayal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj earlier and currently as Sambhaji in TV shows, said, “I could feel the Chief Minister’s genuine concern over the violent turn that the quota stir took and his positive approach towards the welfare of the community. Those present at the meeting sought long-term and concrete efforts to improve the quality of life of Marathas.”
Meanwhile, members of the Kolhapur royal family, who are descendants of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, stayed away from the meeting citing personal reasons.
