After 58 days of protest, Maratha quota leader and social activist, Gopichand Padalkar, has finally ended his hunger strike after the Maharashtra government agreed to accept his demands. The government has agreed to provide reservation in education and government jobs for the Maratha community.
The Maratha community, which constitutes around 30% of the state’s population, has been demanding reservation in education and government jobs for many years. The government had earlier provided reservation for the Maratha community in the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) category, but this was struck down by the Bombay High Court in 2019.
Padalkar had launched his hunger strike on December 17, 2023, demanding that the government provide reservation for the Maratha community in the open category. He had threatened to continue his hunger strike until death if his demands were not met.
The government’s decision to accept Padalkar’s demands has come as a major relief to the Maratha community. Thousands of Marathas had gathered in Mumbai to support Padalkar’s protest. The protest had also received support from various political parties.
The government’s decision is likely to have a significant impact on the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, which are due to be held in October 2024. The Maratha community is a major vote bank in the state, and the government’s decision is likely to win them over.
The following are some of the key demands that the Maharashtra government has agreed to accept:
Reservation for the Maratha community in education and government jobs in the open category.
A special court to fast-track cases related to the Maratha community.
Financial assistance to the families of farmers who have committed suicide.
Waiver of loans taken by farmers.
Setting up of a Maratha Development Corporation.
The Maharashtra government’s decision to accept the demands of the Maratha community is a welcome one. The Maratha community has been facing a lot of hardship in recent years, and this decision will provide them with much-needed relief. It is also hoped that the decision will help to improve the relationship between the Maratha community and the government.
Impact of the decision
The decision of the Maharashtra government to accept the demands of the Maratha community is likely to have a far-reaching impact. It is likely to lead to increased political participation of the Maratha community. The community is also likely to see greater economic prosperity as a result of the reservation in education and government jobs.
The decision is also likely to have a positive impact on the social fabric of Maharashtra. The Maratha community has traditionally been seen as a dominant caste in the state. However, in recent years, the community has faced a number of challenges, including economic hardship and political marginalization. The decision to grant reservation is likely to help to redress some of these grievances and improve the relationship between the Maratha community and other communities in the state.
