Activist Manoj Jarange Speaks To Eknath Shinde, Ends Hunger Strike And Says "Incomplete Reservation" Is Not Acceptable (image: twitter.com/VishalU15)
As Maratha community protests took a violent turn on Monday, the Maharashtra Chief Minister told activist Manoj Jarange Patil that a concrete decision concerning issuing Kunbi caste certificates to the Maratha community will be taken in Tuesday”s cabinet meeting. Mr Shinde also added that to resolve the issue legally, government has filed a curative petition in the Supreme Court.
After a satisfactory discussion, a statement issued by the Chief Minister”s Office (CMO) said that quota activist who was on a indefinite hunger strike consumed water.
“The government has filed a curative petition in the Supreme Court for Maratha reservation. Therefore, I am hopeful that the Maratha community will get the reservation soon,” Livemint reports as Mr Patil is saying.
After ending the hunger strike, Mr Patil addressed media at his village, and told that he has spoken to Mr Shinde and cleared his stand that the Maratha community will not accept an incomplete reservation and the government should conduct a special session of the state legislature concerning the issue.
“60-65 percent of Marathas are already in the ambit of reservation. The government should extend it to the remaining Marathas in the state. For this, the government should call a special session and pass a resolution, accepting the first report of the committee appointed for this purpose and give (Kunbi) certificates. Those who do not want the certificate will not take them. But those who want, should get it,” NDTV reports as Mr Patil saying.
He also said that activists were agitating peacefully; “We want to agitate peacefully.”
The ongoing protests for Maratha reservation escalated as Mr Patil launched an indefinite fast, in the second phase of the protest, from October 25. He was on a hunger strike earlier from August 29 to September 14, in Jalna district but receiving assurance from state government regarding Maratha quota demand, he called off the agitation.
On Monday, a group of angry quota agitators set fire to the houses and offices of many MLA”s in Beed and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Naga district. Besides, they blocked roads and also torched vechicles. A curfew has been imposed in Maharashtra”s Dharashiv district citing the episodes of violence.
The Maratha community”s protest is on demanding reservation in government and educational institutions under the Other Backward Class (OBC) category.
