Maratha quota: Nana Patole calls for transperancy of talks between CM Shinde, Manoj Jarange Patil

Nana Patole/ File Pic

Amid ongoing protests over Maratha reservation, Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole has called for transparency in discussions between Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil.

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"What happened between Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Manoj Jarange Patil? The details of the talks between the Maharashtra Chief Minister and Maratha quota activist Manoj Patil must be made public," Nana Patole was quoted as saying in an ANI report.

According to the report, opposition leaders on Monday protested outside Vidhan Bhavan over the Maratha quota issue. Meanwhile, activist Manoj Jarange Patil accused Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of orchestrating a plot to kill him by poisoning him with saline solution, the report added.

In response, Maharashtra BJP Chief Ashish Shelar disputed Patil's assertions, implying that the Maratha community will soon disclose Patil's true nature, stated the ANI report.

Alongside Shelar, Sena leader Manisha Kayande also dismissed Patil's charges and said, "Whatever Manoj Jarange Patil says, he is making false allegations, he is misleading the people."

Concurrently, Congress leader and the Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar, asked Jarnage Patil to protest peacefully while maintaining law and order. Wadettiwar also alluded to political motivations for Patil's engagement, implying government involvement in meeting activists.

"Everyone knows who groomed Manoj Jarange Patil, whose people used to go to Manoj Patil, whose OSD used to meet Manoj Patil. Maharshtra government ministers used to meet the activists. What they have sown, they are reaping," he had said.

Earlier, Maratha demonstrators set fire to a state transport bus in Ambad taluka, forcing the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) to briefly cease bus services in Jalna, the ANI report added.

Reportedly, the Maratha community has been contesting the issue of Maratha quota for years. Despite the recent adoption of the Maratha Reservation Bill, Manoj Jarange Patil remains on hunger strike, demanding the implementation of the 'Sage Soyare' ordinance notification.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ashok Chavan, subsequently, questioned the need for continuous protest when the government had already met Patil's demands through legislation. He reportedly also said that there is "no need for agitation".