Demand for reservation for Marathas justified: Athawale

Amid growing demand for reservation for Marathas, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale today said the demand of the dominant community in Maharashtra was justified and he would strive to get the community its due.

In a statement by his office, Athwale, Union Minister of State for Social Justice, assured a delegation of Sambhaji Brigade, an organisation which has been working on this issue, saying reservation for the Marathas is a long pending demand and is now stuck in a legal tangle.

The Minister also told the delegation that since the traditional, social and cultural factors were in favour of the community, it would not be difficult to resolve the issue.

The then Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra had given an OBC status to Marathas and Muslims ahead of the Assembly polls. However, it was struck down by the Bombay High Court.

Jats in Haryana, Kapus in Andhra Pradesh, Patidars in Gujarat are some of the prominent communities which have been seeking reservation under the OBC category.