Will push for development till in office: CM Devendra Fadnavis

MUMBAI: At a time when there is a buzz that the state-wide mammoth Maratha protests are eventually meant to ensure the removal of Devendra Fadnavis from the Chief Minister's chair, the latter on Sunday said he would push for development as long as he holds the office.

"I am not worried about how long I stay as the Chief Minister but till the time I am the Chief Minister I will continue to work for development," said Fadnavis, he was speaking in a function in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.

Fadnavis' statement will be seen in the light of the Maratha protests, which some believe are being targeted towards removing Fadnavis who is the state's second Brahmin chief minister. He also used the occassion to try assuaging the Maratha anger by promising to give reservations to the community.

"We are committed to give reservation to the Marathas. In fact, even after the reservations was stuck in courts we tried to help the community. We are collecting all evidences since Shivaji's time to prove that Marathas should get reservation benefits," said Fadnavis.

Interestingly, he also praised the 'discipline' with which the Marathas are bringing out their rallies, which inspite of the participation of lakhs of people has not seen any untoward incident.

The Marathas have been carrying out massive rallies since August 9 after a minor Maratha girl was brutally gangraped and killed allegedly by a few Dalits in Ahmednagar.

Since the incident, the Marathas have been carrying out mammoth 'mukh' (silent) morchas in almost every region of the state calling for the death penalty for the Ahmednagar gang-rape accussed and amendments to the SC/ST Atrocity Act.

The Marathas have been claiming that the Act has been used against them by Dalits to settle scores.

The politically powerful Marathas form 32 per cent of the state's population. The government is in a fix over their demands because the community is also asking for amendments to the Atrocity Act, which will not go well with the Dalit community.

While Fadnavis has called for talks with those organising the Morcha and has even instructed his cabinet Ministers to resolve the grievances none of his cabinet ministers have bothered to have a dialogue with the protesters.