By | Arvind Jadhav
Mumbai: The Maratha reservation agitation in Maharashtra has intensified as prominent leader Manoj Jarange-Patil announced he would stop consuming water from Monday, escalating his indefinite hunger strike at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan. His demand: immediate inclusion of Marathas under the OBC category through a government resolution, citing historical documents like the Hyderabad Gazette of 1884 that link Marathas to the Kunbi community.
Jarange-Patil Hits Out at Leaders, Warns of Political Fallout
Jarange-Patil accused the state government of buying time and failing to take concrete action despite multiple assurances. “We have been patient for too long. If the government continues to ignore Maratha voices, it will face consequences in the coming elections,” he warned.
Taking strong exception to remarks from political leaders, he told Raj Thackeray to “stop commenting” on the agitation after the MNS chief questioned the reasons for its revival under the current regime. Jarange-Patil also slammed Nitesh Rane for suggesting Marathas use the EWS quota, terming it a “deliberate attempt to dilute the movement.”
Earlier, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde appealed for calm, assuring that legal measures were under review, but Jarange-Patil insisted that the protest would end only after a written assurance guaranteeing Maratha reservation without impacting OBC rights.
OBC Leaders Demand Separate Quota, Launch Counter-Protest
While the Maratha stir gains momentum, OBC leaders have expressed apprehension that merging Marathas into the OBC category will reduce opportunities for existing beneficiaries. BJP’s OBC legislators and the National OBC Federation, led by Babanrao Taywade, have demanded that the government protect OBC quotas and consider a separate quota for Marathas instead. The Federation even began a chain hunger strike in Nagpur, highlighting fears of shrinking OBC representation in education and jobs.
Political reactions continued across party lines. Supriya Sule visited the protest site urging the government to convene a special legislative session to resolve the crisis but faced angry demonstrators blocking her car. Raj Thackeray questioned Deputy CM Eknath Shinde on why the agitation restarted if the issue had been resolved earlier, while BJP leaders accused Rohit Pawar of secretly financing the protest.
Despite the criticism, Jarange-Patil remains firm, declaring, “We will not end this agitation until justice is delivered. The government must act now.”
