Maharashtra: Sharad Pawar behind Jarange, alleges Maratha activist

Sangita Wankhede, Pune-based activist

A day after a former associate accused activist Manoj Jarange Patil of misleading the Maratha community, another activist has made serious allegations against him. Sangita Wankhede from Pune said NCP founder Sharad Pawar was behind Jarange's quota activism and has been supporting the stir strategically and financially.

Wankhede said in Pune on Thursday that she initially stood by Jarange, but broke ties with him a month ago. "The media didn't know who Jarange was. I trusted him because of his apparent rusticness and frankness. But soon I realised that he did not take anyone in confidence before deciding on the course of action. He would get a daily call that he responded to and talked in confidence. It was Sharad Pawar who called him daily," she said, adding that the NCP leader also funded Jarange's agitation.

She said while fasting in Antarwali Sarati, Jarange did not entertain other politicians except for Pawar. "He is doing what Pawar wants. The agitation was for a quota which has been given. This is an independent quota that will last in the court. Some Marathas will also get an OBC quota. Then why he is so adamant about continuing the agitation?" she questioned.

Wankhede has demanded a probe into the violence in Antarwali where the police and Marathas had clashed. "The government should probe whether the violence was premeditated." Jarange Patil has dismissed the allegations as part of a larger scheme of the government that wanted his agitation wound up. Senior minister Shambhuraj Desai said the government would not respond to such frivolous accusations.