"Maharashtra government is completely ready to talk": Shiv Sena leader as protests intensify over Maratha reservation

Mumbai: Maratha reservation protests reignited in Maharashtra on Friday as Manoj Jarange Patil led a march to Mumbai demanding immediate implementation of the Maratha reservation. The move comes amidst a heated exchange of words between the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP alliance and the opposition. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat said that the biggest reason" for the Maratha community's struggle for reservation is NCP chief Sharad Pawar.. He also invited protestors to bring a delegation and engage in "open discussion" with the government.
"The Maharashtra government is completely ready to talk about the Maratha reservation; the government's door is forever open for discussion on the Maratha reservation. Our government does not do caste politics; we will do whatever has to be done, Shinde ji took an oath on  Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and said that he had talked about giving reservations," said Sanjay Shirsat He further criticized former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for his inaction during his tenure, accusing him of treating the issue as mere political leverage. "The biggest reason for not getting a reservation is Sharad Pawar. Uddhav Thackeray did not do anything while being the Chief Minister; he only did the work of staying in the house. He sees all this as politics, and he feels that if the Chief Minister gives a reservation, opposition shop will be closed," said Sanjay Shirsat. However, the Shinde-Fadnavis government maintained its stance of openness to dialogue. Shirsat reiterated the government's commitment to addressing the Maratha reservation issue, emphasising that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde "took an oath on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and promised to grant reservation."