Maratha quota: Activist Manoj Jarange warns of fresh agitation from Oct 25 if demands are not met

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange. File Pic

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Saturday promised a fresh agitation from October 25 if demands of the community are not met, reported news agency PTI.

Talking to reporters in Akhluj in Solapur district, he said his ultimatum to the Maharashtra government to provide reservations in jobs and educational institutions to the Maratha community is till October 24, reported PTI.

"I don't know what the government is doing. Tomorrow we will hold a meeting in Antarwali village in Jalna to chart out our next course of action. The government will not be able to withstand a peaceful agitation by the Maratha community," he asserted.

Jarange brought the Maratha quota stir on to the centre stage of the state's politics after he started an indefinite hunger strike in Antarwali Sarati in Jalna on August 29.

Police action at the hunger strike venue on September 1, which led to injuries to several persons, ensured the stir made national headlines, reported PTI.

Jarange ended his hunger strike on September 14 after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met him at the venue and assured that the government would take a positive stand on his demands.

Speaking at the time, Jarange had said agitators have given the state "one month's time" to ensure reservation for Marathas. He had then set October 24 as the deadline for the government to announce quota for the community, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, activist Manoj Jarange said on Friday that he will not "step back an inch" until the Marathas got reservation, and demanded that all Marathas in Maharashtra should be given the Kunbi certificate so that they can get the benefit of quota under the OBC category, reported news agency PTI.

Speaking at a huge rally at Rajgurunagar in Pune district, Jarange also appealed to the community members not to resort to violence or any extreme step like suicide. He will explain the further course of action for the agitation on Sunday, he said, reported PTI.

"Yesterday, one of our brothers, Sunil Kawale, ended his life while seeking quota (in Mumbai). In the last more than a month, 15 to 16 people from the community have ended their lives. In the past, 47 people from the community ended their lives. As a community, we will not allow their sacrifices to go to waste," he said.

Had the government agreed to give quota to the Marathas earlier, these deaths could have been avoided, Jarange said, reported PTI.

"We started this agitation on August 29. The fight is going on even today. One of our brothers opined that there should be "thoka thoki" (violent agitation) now...but because of our peaceful approach, the issue has reached the stage of decision-making process. Now no one has the courage to stop this agitation. I have given my word to everyone that reservation will be obtained in a peaceful manner, and I will not step back an inch until the community gets reservation," he added.

Marathas across the state should be given Kunbi certificates, he demanded. The Kunbi community enjoys reservation under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category in Maharashtra, reported PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)