Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar : Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange on Sunday hardened his stance against state govt, saying he was no longer interested in discussions and wanted immediate implementation of pending demands related to the Maratha quota.
As his latest agitation entered its second day, Jarange said no formal outreach had been made by govt, and indicated that the movement was now preparing for a major showdown in Mumbai. I have entered the battlefield and will wage a war,” Jarange said, adding that preparations were underway for a large march to Mumbai. In the past too, we found solutions to address their issues, and we are moving ahead to resolve their demands,” Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur. “Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and others who headed the Cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation betrayed the Maratha community,” he alleged. It adversely impacted the cause of Maratha reservation,” Jarange said.
“I am not waiting for anybody. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis signalled that govt remained willing to engage with the activist but within legal and constitutional limits. “Govt is fully prepared to discuss demands that are legally viable, constitutionally valid and do not violate court orders. Meanwhile, the quota activist reiterated his key demand that Marathas be issued Kunbi caste certificates based on records found in Hyderabad, Satara and Kolhapur gazettes, a move that would enable members of the community to access OBC reservation benefits. Jarange also renewed his demand for the abolition of the district caste certificate verification committees, arguing that the bodies create unnecessary duplication in the caste certification process. The quota activist also escalated his attack on the Shiv Sena leadership, accusing social justice minister Sanjay Shirsat of creating a political atmosphere that had weakened the reservation movement. “Shirsat, along with other politicians, hatched conspiracies and strategies that created a tense political atmosphere.
He accused govt of failing to act despite repeated assurances and targeted politicians who had earlier handled the reservation issue. He further alleged that deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde was working through Shirsat to damage the Maratha cause, remarks that came amid a fresh war of words over a public programme addressed by Shinde in Parbhani on Sunday.
Upcoming State Meeting to Address Reservation Protests
Jarange has scheduled a state-level meeting for September 12, where he is anticipated to announce the date for a planned march in Mumbai regarding the ongoing reservation issue. This protest marks Jarange’s 11th significant demonstration in nearly three years, highlighting the persistent community demand for reservation rights.
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