Jarange Hardens Stand, Announces Fresh Maratha Quota Agitation
People who had applied for Kunbi certificates on the basis of the Hyderabad Gazette to reach the protest site: Mr Jarange
MUMBAI: Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil will launch a fresh agitation at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district on Saturday after the deadline he set for the Maharashtra government to meet the community’s reservation demands ends on Friday.
Despite government efforts to dissuade him, Mr Jarange has remained firm on his demand for the immediate issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Marathas based on nearly 58 lakh Kunbi records. He has appealed to the Maratha community to mobilise in large numbers, citing concerns over jobs, reservation and the future of the youth.
Speaking to reporters at Antarwali Sarati on Friday, the final day of his ultimatum to the BJP-led Mahayuti government, Mr Jarange urged people who had applied for Kunbi certificates on the basis of the Hyderabad Gazette to reach the protest site and tell the government if they had not received the certificates.
“Do not sit at home. The government is insulting children of the Maratha community by saying that the community did not want reservation and therefore did not apply for the certificate. Those who have applied should inform the government from here,” he said.
He specifically appealed to people whose Kunbi records had been identified but who had not been issued certificates, those whose applications had been rejected, and candidates awaiting appointments despite being selected for government jobs to reach Antarwali Sarati with their documents.
The Hyderabad Gazette, which classifies Marathas in the Marathwada region as Kunbis, and the issuance of certificates enabling them to claim reservation benefits under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, have been opposed by sections of the OBC community.
Mr Jarange also targeted Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Cabinet Sub-Committee chairman Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil. He said the agitation would begin at Antarwali Sarati on August 29 and, if the government failed to take concrete steps on his demands, would move to Mumbai, including a protest outside the Chief Minister’s official residence, Varsha.
Reiterating his stand, Mr Jarange said his indefinite fast would continue until his demands were met. He also appealed to Maratha youth not to resort to suicide and said he would call off the agitation if any member of the community took such a step during the protest.