Mumbai: The Maharashtra
government would file a review petition in the Supreme Court next week against
the May 5 ruling of the top court which quashed reservation in jobs and
education for the Marathas, a senior minister said here on Thursday.
BJP
MP Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, who met Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray during the
day, said the ongoing agitation for quota will not be withdrawn.
Speaking
to reporters after the meeting which lasted for over two hours, PWD minister
Ashok Chavan appealed the Rajya Sabha member to withdraw the agitation.
The
state will file a review petition in the SC within eight days, Chavan said.
Sambhajiraje
had launched his agitation from Kolhapur on Wednesday.
Chavan
also said that the BJP MP put fourth seven demands related to the welfare of
the community.
Hostel
facilities are being made available for Maratha students in 23 districts as per
his demand, while as to the issues with the functioning of SAARTHI training
institute, deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will hold a meeting in Pune on Saturday,
Chavan said.
On
the demand to expedite the trial of the Kopardi rape case, Chavan said the
government has completed the legal process and will request the court to start
trial.
Jobs
have been given to the family of those who lost life during the quota agitation
barring four to five cases which were pending because of inadequate paperwork,
the minister said.
As
to the fate of 2,200 Maratha candidates who appeared for MPSC exams before the
quota was quashed, the government has asked the state public service commission
to accommodate them in Economically Weaker Section and open category, he said.
Sambhajiraje
told reporters that the government was positive about addressing all issues. He
was told that the government will file review petition next Thursday, he said.
“I
told the government that ? 1,000 crore are needed for SAARTHI and the
government assured that all funds will be provided,” he said. It also accepted
the demand to appoint four independent directors on the institute, he said.
The
government also assured that 149 cases filed against Maratha activists during
the quota agitation will be withdrawn, he said.
''We
are not withdrawing the agitation. We will meet on June 21 in Nashik to discuss
the future course of action,” he said.
The
SC on May 5 quashed a Maharashtra law which gave quota to the Marathas, holding
it unconstitutional. It also said that breaching of 50 per cent cap on quota in
the state was not justified.
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