Maratha Kranti Morcha chief said that the group would ensure that Muslim pilgrims travelling to Mumbai to take... Read More

NEW DELHI/AURANGABAD/MUMBAI: Abasaheb Patil, spearheading the sit-in Maratha agitation for the last 20 days from Parli Vaijnath, saidthe CM should assure the community in writing that the state's recruitment drive would be put off. The other demands, he said, were withdrawal of all cases registered against members of the community during the agitation, Rs 500 crore provision for the Annasaheb Patil Corporation, hostels for Maratha students and 50% waiver in fees for Maratha students, who have been given 50% concession only on tuition fees.

He said the Beed collector had approached him on Monday with a letter of promises from the government. "But I told him our specific demands should be accepted. Letters too should come only from the chief secretary or principal secretary," he said.

In Delhi, Fadnavis met Amit Shah after meeting the PM. This meeting was attended by state BJP chief Raosaheb Danve and BJP MPs from Maharashtra. "Besides quota, other issues too were discussed," he said. A BJP cabinet member said in view of Fadnavis's commitment to providing quota, it is expected Marathas will withdraw the August 9 stir in the larger public interest and ensure peace in the state.

Patil said his outfit would ensure that Muslim pilgrims travelling to Mumbai to take the Haj flight to Saudi Arabia would not be affected if roads and highways are blocked by protesters on August 9. "Muslims have extended their support to us and have also participated in our morcha. Of course, the question of protesting does not arise if government meets our demands," Patil said. Rafat Baig of Markaz-e-Khitmate-Hujjaj, told TOI the Haj committee has urged pilgrims to reach Haj House in Mumbai on August 7 even if their flights are scheduled for a later date.

August 9 is threatening to be a challenge because of protests planned by Dalits as well. Although the Modi government has moved to carry out changes in the Atrocities Act to void the alleged dilution of law by the SC, authorities remain apprehensive of the "attempt" of political opponents to stoke trouble. That the two protests coincide is nothing short of an irony. For, anger among Marathas over alleged misuse of the Atrocities Act by Dalits was one of the triggers of the agitation.

