Maharashtra Minister asks Jarange to hold talks with Govt ahead of protests

Maharashtra Minister Chandrakant Patil appealed to the Maratha quota leader Manoj Jarange Patil to hold discussions with the Government, as the latter remained firm on holding protest in Mumbai demanding reservations in jobs for people belonging to Maratha community.

Mr. Jarange called for a protest at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai from August 29, demanding reservation for the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. His demand has faced opposition from OBC groups.

“Jarange should sit across the table with the government, with pen and paper, and discuss the issues related to the Maratha reservation, rather than resorting to fresh protests and hunger strikes,” said Mr. Patil in Sangli. “While everyone has the right to protest in a lawful  manner, any agitation that strays from that path would compel the state to act,” he added.

Ahead of the scheduled demonstration, the State Government has reconstituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee on Maratha reservation. Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil will serve as the chairperson of the committee which will also have Mr. Chandrakant Patil as one of the members of the committee. The committee has been tasked with coordinating on administrative and legal aspects and studying the demand for reservations for the Maratha caste, officials said on Friday. Part of its job will be to consult with protestors, streamline the process of issuing community certificate and review the implementation of welfare schemes for the community.

Mr. Chandrakant Patil, meanwhile, said many people had received Kunbi caste certificates when he was the chairman of the committee. “How long should one person keep doing the same job?” he added.

During the tenure of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the State initiated a campaign to trace Kunbi records, enabling Marathas with such lineage to avail OBC benefits.

Last year, the Government announced a 10% reservation for the Maratha community, implementation of which is underway. However, the decision was challenged in the Bombay High Court, where hearings are ongoing.