Maharashtra: Maratha Quota Standoff Deepens As Jarange Rejects Government’s Claims
Although the state government claimed it had accepted 12 demands, Jarange maintained that none had been fulfilled: Reports
MUMBAI: The Maratha reservation agitation intensified across Maharashtra as activist Manoj Jarange’s indefinite hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati entered its 12th day on Wednesday. Protests and road blockades were reported from several districts after talks between Jarange and the state government apparently broke down.
In Nanded, protesters tore down banners of minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, while a road blockade was staged in Chandwad in Nashik district.
Although the state government claimed it had accepted 12 demands, Jarange maintained that none had been fulfilled.
Jarange also alleged that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was seeking to create clashes among Marathas and trigger violence. He said Shinde should be held responsible if such clashes occurred. Jarange further accused Industries Minister Uday Samant and Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat of discussing such a plan over the phone. The allegations could not be independently verified.
Meanwhile, Samant appealed to Jarange to withdraw the agitation and resolve the issue through dialogue. He also expressed unhappiness over the language used by Maratha quota activists against Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Speaking to reporters, Samant said he and BJP legislator Prasad Lad had held meetings with the administration and the Reservation Committee in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on the instructions of Fadnavis and Shinde. The meetings were aimed at reviewing the work undertaken so far for the Maratha community.
Samant said 21,051 caste certificates had been verified in Marathwada, of which 16,110 had been issued. He said the claim that the verification process was being conducted improperly was unfounded. Only around 2,000 certificates were pending, he said, adding that these would also be issued soon.
Lad appealed to Jarange to withdraw the agitation in view of the upcoming festivals, including Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri and Diwali, as well as the drought-like situation in Marathwada. He urged Jarange to cooperate with the government.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has decided to provide jobs on compassionate grounds to one member of the family of each person who lost their life during the Maratha reservation agitation.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Samant and attended by Minister of State Indranil Naik, Principal Secretary P. N. Anbalagan and MIDC Chief Executive Officer Deependra Singh Kushwaha.
“Maharashtra will never forget the sacrifice of the agitators who laid down their lives for Maratha reservation. This decision sends the message that the Mahayuti government stands firmly with their families. A person from the family of those who lost their lives in the Maratha agitation will be given a job on compassionate grounds,” Samant said.
