Maha Council adjourned amid farm relief, Maratha quota uproar

The Maharashtra Legislative Council Tuesday witnessed uproar as the government and opposition faced off over farm relief and the Maratha quota issue.

Soon after the House assembled for Question Hour, the Leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde said the government has not disbursed financial aid to farmers whose crops have been damaged by pink ballworms.

"I challenge the government to show us a single farmer who has received full compensation of Rs 34,500 for the losses. If you do that, I am ready to resign from the post of opposition leader," Munde said.

He further demanded that the government table in the House the State Backward Class Commission report on Maratha reservation as well as the Tata Institute of Social Sciences report on reservation for the Dhangar community.

In response, state Revenue Minister and Leader of the House Chandrakant Patil said the state government has submitted a proposal to the Centre demanding compensation for crops affected by pink bollworms.

However, no financial aid has been received as yet, he informed the House.

"The government has released Rs 3,360 crore as compensation and also filed cases against crop insurance companies for claims worth Rs 1,100 crore," said Patil.

Responding to opposition demands over the issue of Maratha reservation, the revenue minister said this is the 52nd report of the SBCC and none of the previous reports were tabled in the House.

"We are committed to giving reservation to the Maratha community and will place the ATR (Action Taken Report) (in the House) before tabling the bill," said Patil.

He went on assure the House that the government would not touch the existing 52 per cent quota for various communities and said a special category would be created for the Maratha community.

"We will table the Maratha reservation bill in the current session. However, there are some people who do not want the community to get reservation," he alleged.

Patil's statement triggered a backlash from the opposition benches which in turn led to those from the Treasury benches shouting slogans against the opposition.

The Council chairman then adjourned the House for the day.