Fadnavis, Bhujbal delaying progress in Maratha quota issue, says Jarange-Patil
Pro-Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil alleged on Sunday that Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his Cabinet colleague Chhagan Bhujbal might have “exerted pressure” on the government to prevent the resolution of the reservation issue.
The activist, who had set a deadline of July 13 for the reservation’s implementation, declared his plan to launch an indenite on July 20, in response to the Mahayuti government’s alleged inaction.
He criticised the government’s failure to address the reservation matter in time. He accused Mr. Fadnavis and Mr. Bhujbal of in¤uencing the government against resolving the issue. “I believe, Fadnavis and Bhujbal might have pressurised the government not to solve the Maratha reservation issue,” he said in Jalna district’s Antarwali Sarati village.
On June 13, Mr. JarangePatil suspended his indenite fast over the Maratha quota six days after launching it and set a deadline of one month for the Maharashtra government to accept the community’s demands, including the implementation of the draft notication that recognises Kunbis as sage soyare (blood relatives) of the Maratha community.
He also called for the
The quota activist has declared his plan to start an indenite fast from July 20
framing of a law to identify Kunbis as Marathas, warning that he would eld candidates for all 288 Assembly seats in the State election if his demands were not met.
In February this year, the Maharashtra legislature unanimously passed a Bill granting a separate 10% reservation in education and jobs to the Maratha community under a separate category. However, the community has been demanding a quota under the OBC grouping, while the OBC leaders are demanding an assurance that their quota will remain una ected. They are rallying behind Mr. Bhujbal to protect their existing quota.
Mr. Jarange-Patil also expressed disappointment that State Minister Shambhuraj Desai, a member of the Maratha sub-quota committee, had not reached out to him, suggesting that he may have been pressured not to engage with activists.
The activist hinted that the Maratha leaders will meet on July 20 and decide whether the community will eld 288 candidates in the Assembly election or organise a protest march in Mumbai.
Stating that the community has a democratic right to peaceful protest, he accused Mr. Bhujbal of inciting the OBC against Maratha reservation but expressed condence that the community would eventually understand the minister’s intentions.
“Bhujbal stirred discord between the Dhangar community and Marathas and recommended that the Dhangars to pursue reservation under the Scheduled Tribe category,” he added.