Why is the Maharashtra panel’s report important for Maratha community?

The Maharashtra Backward Class Commission is likely to submit his much-awaited report on Maratha reservation to the Fadnavis government on Wednesday.  Here is a primer on the events leading to the Commission preparing a report

Events leading to the Maharashtra Backward Class Commission preparing the report 

The Maratha community which was mostly engaged in farming used to be well-off and is politically influential. 

However it has suffered the agragrian crisis which has been gripping the state for long. Since the families in the community used to have good income for generations through farming, education was not a priority for them. The youth especially in the Kolhapur and Ahmednagar regions often face clashes between Dalit and Marathas. This has led to unemployment in the community.

The community has been seeking quota in government jobs but it was turned down by at least three government panels including Mandal Commission and struck down by judiciary once.

Following this the community held protests to get the reservation.

In 2016, the protests intensified following the rape and death of a Maratha girl in Kopardi in Ahmednagar district. This led to the first Maratha Kranti Morcha in Aurangabad in August.

This was followed by rallies in Mumbai and Delhi.

In December, the state government files an affidavit to justify the reservation for Marathas as legal and Constitutionally valid. This was soon followed by another march in Nagpur at the time of Winter Legislature.

The protests pitched again in 2018 in July when the issue rocks Monsoon session of the Legislature. 

The community made its demand firmer by deciding to not allow CM Devendra Fadnavis to hold the puja ceremony for Vithal-Rukmini in Pandharpur on Ekadashi. Following this In the chief minister also decides to not attend the ceremony saying the government backs their demands.

On July 23, a youth jumped into the Godavari river in Aurangabad to protest against the state for not meeting their demands.

On August 5, the chief minister asked the Commission to file the report. 

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