Govt trying to resolve your issues:Fadnavis to Maratha leaders

Mumbai, Sep 13 (PTI) Alarmed by a slew of rallies byMarathas demanding amendments in Atrocities Act and quota,Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said his government wastaking steps to resolve "various social issues" concerning thepolitically powerful community. The rallies have assumed significance in the view offorthcoming elections to civic bodies in state. "The government has taken a serious note of the morchasbeing taken out across the state. The morchas are areflection of the pent up resentment of many years within theMaratha community," Fadnavis said told Maratha leaders. Marathas, who constitute 32 per cent of population inMaharashtra, are reportedly in sulk. The rallies have been held since August at Aurangabad,Osmanabad, Jalgaon, Beed and Parbhani, and more are planned inNanded, Jalna, Solapur, Navi Mumbai, Ahmednagar, Pune, Sangli,Satara and Mumbai from September 18. Assuring the community that government was positivetowards their demands, the CM said more consultations will beheld with legislators, senior leaders, senior officers in theadministration, various social organisations and studentbodies. "The government is taking steps to resolve various socialissues of the community through dialogue without creating anycaste tensions," he said. State BJP president Raosaheb Danve later said thegovernment was in agreement with various demands of theMaratha community. "There is no cause for anyone to oppose the demands of thecommunity," he said. Sources said that BJP is dealing cautiously given thatelections to major municipal corporations are due soon. The trigger for holding the rallies was the gangrape andmurder of a teenage girl in Ahmednagar district, as theaccused in the case belonged to different caste. Following the incident, Marathas are raising demand foramendments to the SC and ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, andquota in government jobs and education. (More) PTI MM NSKSMJRDS