Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange vows to continue agitation until community receives benefits

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Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange said on Sunday that the agitation would continue until members of the community start receiving benefits from the proposed notification by the Maharashtra government.

This statement follows the criticism faced by Jarange, with some claiming that the government had only presented him with a draft proposal and not an official notification, newswire PTI reported.

Jarange called off his indefinite fast for the Maratha quota after the government accepted his demands, with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announcing that till Marathas get the reservation, they will be given all the benefits enjoyed by the OBCs.

A draft notification was issued by the government recognising as Kunbis all blood relatives of the Maratha community members whose Kunbi caste records have been found, making them eligible to claim the Kunbi (OBC) certificate, the PTI report said.

"Our agitation will continue until at least one person from my community benefits under the new rules the state is going to introduce. The state government has shown me the draft, and the final notification is yet to be out. We are closely watching the developments," Jarange told reporters in Jalna district when asked about his next step.

Jarange said he would visit the historic Raigad fort on Monday and pay tributes on Tuesday to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. "I will go home (in Jalna district) only after paying tributes," he said.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Narayan Rane expressed disagreement on Sunday with the Maharashtra government's recent decision to extend all benefits enjoyed by the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to the Maratha community until they are granted reservation.

Rane, a former chief minister of the state, believes that such a move would infringe upon the rights of other backward communities and may potentially lead to unrest in Maharashtra.

In a post on X, Rane stated that he disapproves of the state government's decision and its assurance to the Maratha community regarding reservation. He emphasized that such a move might suppress the historical legacy of the Maratha community and encroach upon the rights of other backward communities, potentially leading to unrest in the state. Rane indicated that he would address the issue further on Monday.

"It will lead to suppression of the Maratha community that has a historical legacy and it will also be an encroachment on the other backward communities," he said. "It could lead to an unrest in the state," Rane said, adding he will speak on the issue on Monday also. (With inputs from agencies)