Hearing on Maratha reservation should be held before Constitutional Bench: Ashok Chavan

Aurangabad, Oct 26:

The PWD minister and president of Maratha Reservation''s sub-committee Ashok Chavan pointed out that the hearing upon the issue should be held before a constitutional bench rather than the bench-led by Justice L Nageshwara Rao, who granted a stay on the reservation.

Chavan was addressing the media persons at the district collectorate today. The hearing upon the reservation is to be held in the Apex Court, tomorrow.

" The reservation has not been cancelled. The issue is now out of the jurisdiction of the government. It could be argued in the court. I had discussions with the members of 72 different organisations of the Maratha community through video-conferencing. The summary of discussions has been brought into the notice of the chief minister Udhav Thackeray. We have extended support to the demands of Sakal Maratha Samaj, and the same is our role and will be continued," he stressed.

In reply to a question about confusion amongst leaders of various organisations, he said, " The government has given me the responsibility as sub-committee president and I will fulfil the responsibilities and will do whatever is needed to be done."

When he was brought to notice that Congress party''s contact minister Amit Deshmukh had claimed that the party will contest the forthcoming AMC elections on its strength, Chavan said that Deshmukh is the contact minister and I also agree with his decision. " However, the issue is at a premature stage. The decision upon it would be taken considering the then situation," said Chavan.

Chavan refused to comment over a critical remark made by Narayan Rane on the CM during a press conference. Chavan, however, said that nowadays his remarks are not worth taking notices.

District Congress Committee president Kalyan Kale, former MLC Subhash Zambad, Vilas Bapu Autade, Namdeo Pawar, Kiran Patil Dongaonkar, Ravindra Kale and others were present on occasion.