Maratha quota: Marathas end protest, threaten to return

CM Shinde and Maratha quota activist Jarange, just after the protest was called off. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

After the Eknath Shinde-led state government agreed to their demands, Maratha protesters led by Manoj Jarange Patil withdrew their agitation for reservation on Saturday morning. While ending his hunger strike, Jarange threatened a return to Azad Maidan, if the government failed to maintain the legality of the draft ordinance issued, which gives the Maratha community reservations under the OBC category in education and jobs.

Previously, the reservation activist said he would march alongside thousands from his community to Azad Maidan to stage a massive protest on Saturday, if their demands were not met. On Friday night, a delegation of state government officials, including ministers Deepak Kesarkar and Mangalprabhat Lodha, arrived at the community's protest site near Vashi's APMC Market with the draft ordinance.

In his address to thousands of supporters at midnight, the reservation activist announced that the draft ordinance was cross-checked by legal advisors before the agitation could be called off. The Maharashtra government has accepted all of Jarange's demands, including disclosing data about the allotment of Kunbi certificates to 37 lakh members from the community, as well as the withdrawal of complaints filed against protestors across the state.

Jarange had been on an indefinite hunger strike since Friday, and was offered a glass of juice by CM Shinde. "The state government used the term ‘sage-soyare' (loosely meaning from the same family tree) which opens the door to Kunbi certificates to relatives under the traditional marriage system. Now, it has a responsibility to keep its word; if it fails, we will return to take out a hunger strike at Azad Maidan," Jarange said, adding that a number of protestors had died by suicide in this fight for reservation. He appealed to his supporters to return to their villages in a peaceful manner.

CM Shinde made note of the restrained and disciplined nature of the agitation, which began on January 20. "Not only the country, but the world's attention was drawn to the agitation of the Maratha community… I am a farmer's son. I understand the suffering and pain of the Maratha community. That is why I publicly took an oath in the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj; today, I am working to fulfill that oath," Shinde said, adding that this decision by the government was taken for the betterment of the community, not in a bid to win their vote.

Jarange also announced the location of the next meeting in Marathwada's Antarwali Sarati to discuss the steps ahead. His demands for the future include an amendment to the free education policy in the state to include the Marathas until they can avail of the benefits of reservation. The activist called for free education for boys - besides girls - from kindergarten to postgraduate studies.

37L
No of Kunbi certificates allotted to Maratha community