Shiv Sena took a jibe at its ally in the state Bharatiya Janata Party after state cabinet Minister of BJP Pankaja Munde made a subtle attack at the Chief Minister of Maharastra Devendra Fadnavis and hinting at an intentional delay in passing the file for Maratha reservation.
While listening to Maratha protestors at Parli in Beed district, Pankaja Munde had said, “Had the file of Maratha reservation been on my table, I would not have delayed it even for a moment. This issue is being delayed as it is pending in the high court.”
Sena in its official newspapers “Saamana” and “Dopahar Ka Saamana” attacked BJP on the issue of Maratha agitation and Munde’s statement. The papers said, “If Pankaja Munde can clear the file without any problems, she should be made the chief minister with the consent of everybody for at least for an hour so that a decision is taken on the Maratha reservation file.”
Trying to kindle a fire within the BJP, the paper asked, “Pankaja Munde’s stand needs to be understood. There is no reason to believe that she intends to play politics over the issue. If she can request the prime minister to intervene, why can’t Fadnavis go to Delhi and do that as well?”
The article also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and remarked, “Modi is away from Delhi most of the time… He has lost interest in the problems of the country or the states… Many a times he is abroad. So Fadnavis must be wondering which wall to bang his head against after going there (to Delhi).”
Shiv Sena also said in the newspaper that for the unrest in the Maratha community demanding reservations cannot be blamed fully on CM Fadnavis. “Promises (of reservation) made to the Dhangar and Maratha communities should be fulfilled now or else the file should be sent to Pankaja Munde for clearance so that the issue gets resolved,” said the paper.
Maratha protests began peacefully with protestors demanding reservation in jobs and education for the community. The agitation turned violent after 27-year-old protester from Aurangabad committed suicide by jumping in Godavari river on July 23.