The Maratha community in Maharashtra has announced a protest at Kranti Chowk in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar from May 1, demanding that the community be given reservation only from the Other Backward Class (OBC) category. This decision comes after the Supreme Court rejected the reconsideration petition filed against the cancellation of the Maratha reservation and the state government's decision to file a curative petition and appoint a new commission.
At a meeting of the Maratha community held on Saturday, various community leaders discussed the state government's decision and emphasized that the reservation of the Maratha community depends on political will, not on courts. The community leaders also discussed the government's recent appointment of a committee of chartered officers to include the Maratha community in the OBC category.
It was decided at the meeting that a sit-in protest would be held at Kranti Chowk from May 1, and no one would go to Mumbai to discuss the matter with the state government. The community leaders emphasized that the government should be forced to come to them and address their demands.
The demand for reservation for the Maratha community has been a long-standing issue in Maharashtra, and the recent developments have only added to the community's frustrations. It remains to be seen how the state government will respond to the community's demands and the upcoming protest.