Activist Manoj Jarange accused the Maharashtra government on Friday of attempting to stoke tensions between the Maratha and OBC communities, vowing that he won’t “let it happen”. The 41-year-old activist was speaking to Marathi news channel ABP Majha after his discharge from a hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
He claimed that there are “8-9 people in the government” who “harbour hatred” for the Maratha community, adding that their names will be revealed at the “right” time.
According to Jarange, the government is promoting new leaders and sidelining others to create a rift between the Maratha and OBC communities. He emphasised that those protesting the non-dilution of the OBC quota are not at fault.
OBC activists Laxman Hake and Navnath Waghmare have been fasting in the Jalna district since June 13, demanding that the government scrap the draft notification that recognizes Kunbis as “sagely soyare” (blood relatives) of Maratha community members. The agrarian Kunbi community enjoys OBC status in the state.
Jarange has called for the implementation of the draft notification and Kunbi certificates for all Marathas, making them eligible for quotas in government jobs and education. “The Maratha community will not allow tension to simmer among communities in villages,” said Jarange.
With a few months to go before the Assembly elections in Maharashtra, the Maratha community will “sink politically” those trying to create discord between social groups, he said.
On Thursday, Jarange alleged that the state government’s stance—that the inclusion of the term “sage soyare” in the Maratha reservation notification will not stand legal scrutiny—indicated opposition to such a provision.
Earlier, Minister Girish Mahajan stated that Jarange was demanding reservation for “sage soyare” Marathas with Kunbi caste certificates, but such a move would not withstand a legal challenge.
“They (the government) are not being truthful. They only brought in constitutional and legal experts (for the reservation) and now say it won’t hold up,” said Jarange on Friday.
Jarange mentioned that a six-phase survey is being conducted, and the results will determine whether they will field candidates in the upcoming state elections. Assembly elections in Maharashtra are scheduled for October.
He also urged Maratha leaders from all political parties to attend community rallies in their districts. “If they don’t show up, the Maratha community will ‘fell’ them (in elections),” he added.