On Cam | Maratha Quota Protesters Set NCP MLA Prakash Solanke's House in Beed On Fire

Amidst fresh violence over the issue of Maratha quota, Maharashtra MLA Prakash Solanke’s home in Beed district was vandalised and set on fire on Monday.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Solanke, a member of the opposition Nationalist Congress Party said, “I was inside my home when it was attacked. Fortunately, none of my family or staff were injured. We are all safe but there is a huge loss of property.”

The video showed a large white house completely engulfed in fire and a massive plume of black smoke was also seen coming from the burning building.

Members of the Maratha community have been staging protests seeking reservation in government jobs and education under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

The agitation intensified after quota activist Jarange sat on an indefinite fast from October 25 at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna as part of the second phase of the protest. On his appeal, many villages have banned the entry of political leaders. Dr Ghodke said, “District officials and doctors are approaching Jarange after every 2-3 hours. But, every time he has been refused a health check-up and treatment.”

Jarange has announced that fast-unto-death protests will begin in villages across Maharashtra if the state government fails to act on the pending demand of the Maratha community.

The Maharashtra government’s stated position is that it is committed to granting reservation to the Maratha community which stands legal scrutiny.

On October 24, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde while addressing the annual Dussehra rally of Shiv Sena in Mumbai took a pledge in front of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s bust to grant reservations to Marathas which will be legally sustainable.

CM Shinde on Monday said that a three-member committee of experts will be set up to advise the state government on submission of a proposed curative petition in the Supreme Court in connection with the Maratha quota issue.