The Congress claimed today that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' meeting with prominent personalities from the Maratha community received a lukewarm response, a claim dismissed by the government.
The opposition party said the "poor attendance" at the meeting is a testimony to the fact that the people have lost faith in the leadership of the chief minister.
However, the state government disputed the Congress' claim, saying most of the invitees attended the meeting held at the Sahyadri Guest House in south Mumbai.
The meeting was convened by the chief minister in view of the fresh wave of protests by the Maratha community demanding 16 per cent reservation in jobs and education.
The protests had taken a violent turn at many places in the state.
"Majority of the prominent personalities from the community invited for the meeting convened by the chief minister on Maratha reservation did not show up," Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan said on Twitter tagging a media report.
"This makes it clear the Maratha community does not trust the chief minister. The chief minister has lost the faith of people of the state had reposed in him (sic)," he added.
However, an official from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said that 80 per cent of the invitees participated in the discussion with Fadnavis.
"About 4 to 5 dignitaries were absent including Kolhapur royal Shahu Chhatrapati. There were various reasons for their absence," the official said.
After the meeting, the prominent personalities from the fields of cinema and industry issued a joint appeal asking the protesters to exercise restraint and not indulge in violence or suicide.
Noted actors Sayaji Shinde and Amol Kolhe, well-known art director Nitin Desai, Shirdi temple trust chairman Suresh Haware and water conservation activist Popatrao Pawar were among the 22 personalities who attended the meeting.
After the meeting, Fadnavis reiterated his government's commitment to granting reservation to the Marathas which stands legal scrutiny.
Meanwhile, the NCP has demanded the government get the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission file its report on the socio-economic backwardness of the Marathas soon and convene a special session of the state legislature to discuss the quota issue.
"The government should then send a proposal for a Constitutional amendment to the Centre. Our party will support it in Parliament. (NCP chief) Sharad Pawar will speak with other parties for their backing," state NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik told reporters here.
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