Maharashtra govt committed to providing reservation to Maratha community: CM Shinde

Thane (Maharashtra) [India], October 22 (ANI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday expressed condolences over the death of two people from the Maratha community and appealed to the activists not to commit suicide.
"Today I want to appeal that two people from the Maratha community committed suicide, I'm also from the Maratha community and the son of a farmer, I express condolences to those who have committed suicide. Please think about your families before taking such steps," CM Shinde said.
He further said that his government stands with the Maratha community and is committed to providing reservations to the Maratha community, adding that giving reservations is the government's responsibility.
"It is the government's responsibility to give reservation to the Maratha community, and we are working towards it. With the Supreme Court admitting the state government's curative petition on the Maratha reservation, a big window for reservation has opened for the Maratha community," he added.
He also said that the state government had appointed a committee to issue Kunbi certificates to Maratha community members in Marathwada for those who have old records.
"I am giving my word. I won't lie and mislead the Maratha community. I won't make any false promises. This is the duty of our government to give reservation to the Maratha community," he said.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Ashok Chavan also expressed condolences and said that it's a pity that such a thing has happened.
"A person from Hadgaon tehsil of Nanded has committed suicide after not getting a reservation for the Maratha community. It's a pity that such a thing has happened... I hope the government will give their judgment soon on the Maratha reservation," Ashok Chavan said.
Earlier on October 19, a man from Jalna district who came to Mumbai for the cause of the Maratha reservation allegedly died by suicide.
He allegedly hanged himself with a rope under the Western Express Highway in the Bandra area of Mumbai. The incident is said to have happened on Wednesday night, police said.
The deceased is identified as Sunil Baburao Kawle, a resident of Chikangaon village in Ambad taluka of Jalna district, police said.
In the suicide note, the deceased wrote, "People of the Maratha community should gather in Mumbai on October 24 for the movement for the Maratha reservation." At the end of the suicide note, he also apologised, police said.
The Maratha community held a protest for over a month for the community's inclusion into the OBC list in the state.
On September 1, a clash broke out in Jalna between police and those demanding reservations for the Maratha community. Police resorted to lathi charges to disperse the demonstrators. (ANI)