By | Arvind Jadhav
Mumbai : After five days of intense protests at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, Maratha quota leader Manoj Jarange Patil’s demands have been accepted by the Maharashtra government, marking a major victory for the Maratha reservation movement.
On Monday, State Cabinet Sub-Committee chief Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil visited the protest site and announced that the government would issue Government Resolutions (GRs) to implement the key demands. Among them:
The Hyderabad Gazetteer will be enforced, enabling Maratha community members to obtain Kunbi caste certificates based on ancestral records.
The Satara Gazette will also be implemented within a month, providing further documentary support for Maratha inclusion under the OBC quota.
All criminal cases filed against protestors during the agitation will be withdrawn.
The government has agreed to seven major demands of the protesters, including recognition of “Kunbi-Maratha as one community” and providing OBC benefits to the Marathas. The state has requested two months to complete the Hyderabad Gazetteer implementation and one month for the Satara Gazette execution.
The Bombay High Court had earlier directed the state to resolve the protest quickly, citing severe inconvenience to citizens, students, and commuters due to the agitation at Azad Maidan. Police had issued notices to vacate the protest site after the court’s order.
As soon as the government’s decision was announced, celebrations erupted among the protestors with slogans, colors, and chants of victory. Manoj Jarange credited Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis for pushing the Hyderabad Gazette decision but warned, “If the government deceives us again, no minister will be allowed to move freely in Maharashtra.”
With the government issuing the GRs, Manoj Jarange announced that the protest will be called off by 9 PM tonight, ending the high-tension standoff that had gripped Maharashtra for five days.
