Jarange threatens protest against Mandal commission if Marathas not given OBC status
Mumbai: Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Saturday threatened to start protests against the Mandal commission if his community is not given reservation in the OBC category. After the Maharashtra government assured OBC activists that their reservation will not be disturbed, Jarange alleged that the Eknath Shinde government is doing injustice to the Maratha community.
Jarange has been protesting for the reservation for Marathas as OBC. Claiming that the Maratha community was also recognised as ‘Kunbi’, a caste that is part of the existing OBC group, Jarange said that Marathas have deprived of their right for more than three decades (ever since OBC reservation was provided based on Mandal commission recommendations).
Jarange alleged that the protests being held by OBC activists to oppose inclusion of the Maratha community in the OBC class are part of a conspiracy against Marathas. He urged chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to thwart the conspiracy.
“Remember that Marathas also voted for you. Do not allow injustice against them. If any Kunbi caste certificate given to Marathas is cancelled, our next protest will be against Mandal commission,” Jarange said.
The Maratha quota agitation played a significant role in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. It is being said that the Marathas voted against the BJP and its alliance partners en masse in the election. However , it has also invoked strong reaction from the OBC group, which feels that Marathas will encroach upon their reservation if the government succumbs to Jarange’s pressure tactics.
Jarange has alleged that nine ministers, including two Marathas, are working against Maratha's interests. He has announced a deadline of July 13 for the government to issue the notification regarding Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas. If the notification is not issued, he will reveal the names of these ministers. He urged the government to convince the OBCs that Marathas' inclusion in the quota does not infringe on their rights.
