Army (UBT) seeks time from President, demands special session of Parliament on Maratha reservation issue

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Vinayak Raut has written a letter to President Draupadi Murmu seeking an appointment with him and called for a special session of Parliament to discuss the issue of reservation for Maratha and Dhangar communities.
The letter dated October 31 said that an 11-member delegation led by Army (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut wants to meet the President on November 5 or 6.

Marathas are demanding reservation in government jobs and education under the OBC category, while the Dhangar (herder) community wants ST (Scheduled Tribe) status.

On Tuesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded a special session of Parliament and said the issue could be resolved by the Centre.

He said that all the Union Ministers of Maharashtra should raise the issue of reservation in the cabinet meeting.

Thackeray also urged the Union ministers to resign if the demand (Maratha reservation) is not met.

In the past few days, incidents of violence broke out in parts of Maharashtra with Maratha reservation supporters vandalizing the residences and offices of some politicians.

Activist Manoj Jarange is on hunger strike in his Antarwali Sarti village of Jalna district since October 25 demanding Maratha reservation.