Maratha quota activist Jarange-Patil threatens to march towards Mumbai if demands not met
The Hindu
Pro-Maratha quota activist demands amendment to free education policy for all Marathas until community-wide reservation is implemented.
In a fresh demand, pro-Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil asked the Maharashtra government on Friday to amend its free education policy, extending the benefit to all Marathas until reservation is available for the entire community.
Mr. Jarange-Patil, accompanied by thousands of supporters, addressed a rally at Shivaji Chowk in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, warning that if their demands were not met by Friday night, they would proceed to the country’s commercial capital for a planned protest at Azad Maidan ground on Saturday. He arrived at Vashi on Friday morning as part of his march towards Mumbai which began on January 20 from Jalna district demanding Maratha quota under the OBC classification in jobs and education, and he had stopped solid food intake while subsisting only on water. A government delegation met him and gave him some documents on his demands.
Declaring a hunger strike, the 41-year-old activist stated his intention to stay in Navi Mumbai for the day but signalled a potential move to Mumbai if an ordinance addressing his demands was not promulgated by nightfall.
“I am taking a step backwards. If an ordinance is not promulgated tonight, I will come to Mumbai tomorrow,” he said.
He insisted that boys should also receive free education besides girls, and all Marathas should benefit “from KG to PG” until community-wide reservation is implemented by the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government.
The decision on going to Azad Maidan will be taken tomorrow at noon, Mr. Jarange-Patil said and added that once he set out, there would be no turning back. “Won’t go back home until we get the reservation for Marathas,” he told the followers amidst cheering and sloganeering.
Requesting data on the 37 lakh Kunbi certificates issued by the State government, he sought clarity on the distribution of these certificates among Marathas. The Kunbi, categorised as an OBC, has been a focal point in his demand for certificates for the entire Maratha community.
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