Jarange-Patil Warns of Consequences for Delayed Maratha Reservation
Shivba Sanghatana President Manoj Jarange-Patil, in the eighth day of his indefinite hunger strike, has intensified his position on the Maratha reservation issue, pledging to continue his protest until the Maratha community secures full quotas under the 'Kunbi Caste.' He firmly stated that the government will face the consequences of their actions.
Jarange-Patil expressed his frustration, alleging that the people of Maharashtra strongly disapprove of the government's delays in granting Maratha reservations. He accused the government of withholding reservation despite the presence of documentary evidence, all while surrounded by hundreds of concerned villagers and supporters.
He accused the Maharashtra government of attempting to prolong the process by seeking extensions to address the Maratha community's demands. Jarange-Patil specifically named Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar as individuals who would bear the consequences of their actions.
Temporary Break and Deadline for Maratha Quotas: Jarange-Patil briefly resumed drinking water due to health concerns but made it clear that unless Maratha quotas were announced before November 1, he would resume his hunger strike.
In response to the ongoing protest, the Chief Minister convened an all-party meeting with 32 top leaders in attendance. They adopted a unanimous resolution pledging to grant reservations to the Maratha community, emphasizing the need to address legal complexities and ensure the reservations would withstand legal scrutiny. Chief Minister Shinde reassured that Maratha quotas would not disrupt the reservations of any other community.
Jarange-Patil declined the appeals made by all political parties and the state government's decision to issue 'Kunbi Caste' certificates to individuals whose documents were identified by a state-appointed panel, the retired Justice Sandeep Shinde Committee.