Maratha Quota Activists Start March to Mumbai

Mumbai: Maratha quota activists led by Manoj Jarange-Patil on Saturday launched a protest march from Antarwali-Saraati village in Jalna district of Maharashtra. Mr.Jarange Patil was accompanied by thousands of Maratha community members.

Before beginning the protest march, he also slammed the state government for its lackadaisical approach over the reservation. Despite giving seven months to the government, it did not resolve the issue of reservation for the Maratha community, the Maratha quota activist said.

As his match is heading towards Mumbai, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde instructed the state administration to give priority to the work related to the survey, which is being undertaken by Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (OBC) to study backwardness of Maratha community on war footing. The Chief Minister held a meeting via video conference with the divisional commissioners and retired judges along with the district collectors in connection with Maratha reservation.

The distance between Antarwali-Saraati village and Mumbai is more than 400 km. Thousands of members from the Maratha community are accompanying Mr. Jarange during the protest. The protesters will walk for a few hours every day and also use vehicles. From January 26, Mr. Jarange is scheduled to begin his hunger strike over the quota issue.

Mr. Jarange-Patil said that the door for discussion is open for the government to resolve the issue of Maratha reservation. “Let them (the government) do what they want. At last, they can shoot me. I am ready to die ... .but their political career will be over if anything happens to me. The Maratha community will continue to protest year after year,” he said.

Mr. Jarange-Patil also demanded that the government should immediately issue 54 Lakh Kunbi caste certificates, which will enable them to get reservation under the OBC category.

Accusing the government of cheating the Maratha community,Mr. Jarange Patil said, “I request Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to take the initiative to issue 54 Lakh Kunbi caste certificates to the family members of the Maratha community.”

Jarange Patil has reached at Gevrai taluka in Beed district on Saturday evening.

According to the state government, a total of 1,47,000 registered certificates have been issued to the Maratha community members since October 2023, CM Shinde said the government was bringing legislation in February for reservation to the Maratha community. He also clarified that reservation for the Maratha community will be provided without affecting reservation to the OBC and other communities.