As the deadline for peaceful protests demanding the Maratha quota comes to an end today (October 24, Manoj Jarange Patil, a Jalna-based activist, has reiterated his intent to commence a fast unto death from Wednesday (October 25) if the government does not guarantee the quota by Tuesday.
At a press conference in Antarwali Saraati village in Jalna district, Patil made a resolute declaration, stating, “No political leader will be allowed in our villages until the issue of the Maratha community is resolved. If you want to come to our villages, come with the reservation. If not, we will not even let you cross the village borders.”
“The government had asked for 30 days, we gave them 40 days. Now, if justice is not delivered on October 24, I will start a hunger strike again from October 25… I will not even take medical assistance or water,” Patil said, adding that from October 25, political leaders will be banned in villages.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said the state government, led by him and the two deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, is committed to providing reservations to Marathas and implored the community members to keep patience and not take any extreme steps.
Shinde appealed to the Marathas to give the government some time and assured them that the state would fulfill the promise of reservation to them.
“I have promised to secure a reservation for Marathas. So my Maratha brothers, please do not take any extreme steps like suicide. The state government is trying its best to provide reservation that fits within the framework of the law, and which will also stand in the court and is long-lasting,” said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Thane on Sunday.
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The Shiv Sena-BJP government has faced criticism from other OBC communities opposed to relinquishing reservation space. However, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis affirmed the Maharashtra government’s commitment to providing reservations for the Maratha community. He highlighted that the reservation must adhere to legal and constitutional scrutiny to avoid being challenged in court.
“Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has stressed that the government wants to give the reservation to the Maratha community, which will pass legal and constitutional tests. If a decision to award reservation in education and government jobs is taken hurriedly, the court will strike it down and the state will face the criticism of cheating the community,” Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur.
These developments come after protests were led by Jarange and the Maratha community in the state in September. Meanwhile, Maharashtra OBC Mahasangh president Babanrao Taywade conveyed the organization’s “wait and watch” approach while reaffirming their unwavering stance on the Maratha reservation.
In another development, in the last two days, two Maratha quota activists, including a minor, have died by suicide in Maharashtra’s Nanded district. Both left suicide notes requesting reservations for the Maratha community. A third activist, Sunil Kawale, was found dead by suicide in Mumbai on October 19. He also left a suicide note with the same demand.
Timeline of the Maratha stir
August 29 – September 14: Hunger strike
Manoj Jarange-Patil initiated an indefinite hunger strike on August 29 in Jalna. He ended the strike on September 14 in the presence of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and other ministers, but only after receiving assurances about Maratha reservations. The government was given 40 days to announce the decision, which would conclude on October 24.
September 1: The stir begins
The stir began on September 1 when protesters, demanding OBC status for Marathas, were lathi-charged by the police in Jalna. Jalna was also the site of Jarange-Patil’s hunger strike.
Government’s response
The government has promised to fulfill most of Jarange-Patil’s demands but noted that some may take time to implement. Under the pressure of the protest, talks were initiated between the state government and Jarange-Patil. A government resolution was issued, deciding to give Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas whose ancestors were described as Kunbi in Nizam-era documents of the Hyderabad kingdom. This step will allow Marathas in the state’s Marathwada region to avail of quota benefits as Kunbis fall under the OBC category.
The Maratha community’s demand for reservations
With approximately one-third of the state’s population, the Maratha community has a significant presence in Maharashtra. They have been demanding reservations in government jobs and educational institutions. The demand for Maratha reservations dates back several decades. The government initially granted 16 per cent reservation in 2018, which was later reduced by the court.
In 2018, the state government provided 16% reservation but faced legal challenges. The Bombay High Court reduced it to 13 per cent in jobs and 12 per cent in education. In 2021, the Supreme Court quashed the move.
The crisis escalated when protestors calling for OBC status for Marathas were lathi-charged by the police on September 1.