Daijiworld Media Network – Jalna
Jalna, Aug 26: Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Monday issued an ultimatum to the Maharashtra government, demanding a 10 per cent reservation for the Maratha community under the OBC category by August 26, or face a massive protest march to Mumbai.
Jarange declared he would begin his march from Antarwali Sarathi village on August 27, reach Azad Maidan in Mumbai by August 28, and launch an indefinite hunger strike from August 29. “I can overturn the government if the quota is not given. I will not listen to anyone once I leave my village,” he warned.
The activist reiterated his demand for Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas and the implementation of the Hyderabad, Satara and Bombay gazettes, accusing the state of failing to act on the “sage soyare” draft notification for 18 months. “Reservation must come from the OBC quota, not from the EBC quota,” Jarange said, adding that the growing resentment against Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis could have serious consequences.
Appealing to doctors, teachers, bus conductors, farmers, businessmen and common Marathas to join his movement, Jarange insisted the protest would remain peaceful.
The BJP, however, hit back strongly, accusing him of being politically motivated and harbouring animosity towards CM Fadnavis. Senior leaders including Pravin Darekar and Prasad Lad alleged that Jarange had used foul remarks against Fadnavis’ mother, drawing widespread condemnation. “Civilised Maharashtra will never forgive him,” Darekar said, adding that a person with such language “cannot be a follower of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.”
BJP media chief Navnath Ban also targeted NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, accusing Jarange of praising him while vilifying Fadnavis. “When Pawar was CM, he did nothing about Maratha quota. It was Fadnavis who first gave reservation, though it was later struck down by the Supreme Court,” Ban pointed out.
Jarange, however, denied the charge, clarifying, “I did not use any abusive words against the CM’s mother. If anything hurtful has been said, I take it back.”