Maharashtra | Give quota to Marathas, don't play with Jarange's life: Uddhav

The Maratha and Dhangar communities must be given reservation in jobs and education without impacting such benefits of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes, said Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday.

A section of the Maratha community has been demanding inclusion in the OBC segment for quota purposes, while the Dhangars want ST status. “Instead of playing with the life of Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange, who is on a hunger strike, the Eknath Shinde government must provide reservations to the community and ensure social unity is not hurt,” Thackeray said in a statement.

Jarange is on a fast unto death since October 25 in Jalna seeking quota for the community. The state government is speaking “mann ki baat” while its “mann” has no emotions, the former chief minister said. “It has no intention to save Jarange’s life,” Thackeray alleged.

Jarange had undertaken a fast on August 29, which he broke on September 14 on the assurance of the state government about efforts to ensure the Maratha community is provided reservation.

However, after the October 24 deadline set by Jarange to address the issue expired, he resumed his hunger strike a day after Dussehra.

In his statement, Thackeray said youth from the Maratha community were committing suicide over the quota demand. “Will the government place the order of the reservation on the community's dead body,” Thackeray asked.

In the last few months, there have been multiple reports of Maratha community members committing suicide in different parts of the state in support of the quota demand.

Jarange slams Fadnavis

Meanwhile, Jarange on Sunday hit out at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the latter's reported remark to a news channel about being a soft target as he was a Brahmin and that he could do nothing to change his caste.

Jarange is on hunger strike in Antarwali Sarati here since October 25 seeking quota for the Maratha community. “If he can't change his caste, we Marathas cannot change ours either. He is committing mistakes and that is why he is being targeted. Fadnavis should refrain from discussing caste issues,” Jarange said.

Jarange said the community had forgiven Fadnavis after the latter “apologised” for police action on quota activists here on September 1.

“Fadnavis must convene a special session of the Maharashtra legislature and pass a law to give quota to the Marathas. The community will hold him in high regard for such an act,” Jarange added.

Jarange criticised Jalna guardian minister and BJP leader Atul Save for his “anti-Maratha stance” and hailed Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar for supporting the cause.

Village bars entry of leaders

Residents of Charangaon in Maharashtra’s Akola district on Sunday said they have banned the entry of political leaders into the village till Maratha quota is declared in the state.

They pointed to a board outside the village, in Patur taluka, proclaiming that no leader from any political party will enter till the state government declares reservations for the community in jobs and education.

“Charangaon is the first area in Akola to take such a decision,” claimed villager Rajesh Deshmukh. “If political leaders can think about the future of their children, why not us and for that we need reservations,” another villager said.

(With agency inputs)