Maratha quota protest: Maharashtra government forms new committee that sets off to meet Manoj Jarange

Sumant Bhange, Secretary of the Social Justice Department, Madhukar Arangal, Regional Commissioner of Aurangabad, and Dr. Amol Shinde, Principal Secretary of the Chief Minister`s Office set off to Vashi. Pic/CMO

Responding to the demands of Maratha quota leader Manoj Jarange Patil, Maharashtra state government has formed a new committee and has tasked it with addressing the concerns raised by Patil.

The delegation has set off towards Vashi in Navi Mumbai where Jarange is camping, Maharashtra Chief Minister's office said.

The committee comprises key officials, including Sumant Bhange, the Secretary of the Social Justice Department, Madhukar Arangal, the Regional Commissioner of Aurangabad, and Dr. Amol Shinde, the Principal Secretary of the Chief Minister's Office.

The committee's formation follows a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at his residence in Varsha, where discussions centered on the formulation of a new ordinance to meet the demands of Manoj Jarange Patil and the Maratha community. The committee will engage with the specifics of Manoj Jarange's demands.

Earlier in the day, a team of senior Mumbai police officials Friday held a meeting with Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange in Navi Mumbai regarding his planned agitation in the metropolis.

Jarange, accompanied by thousands of supporters, is currently stationed in the APMC area in Vashi.

He has warned the Maharashtra government that he will march to Mumbai's Azad Maidan for a sit-down protest starting Saturday if various demands, including free education for Maratha children, are not addressed, newswire PTI reported.

An official said the Mumbai police team comprised Additional Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) Virendra Mishra, Additional Commissioner of Police (East) Vinayak Deshmukh and Deputy Commissioner of Police Purushottam Karad.

The details of the discussion between Jarange and the police team were not immediately available as it took place behind closed doors.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Jarange said Maratha agitators are cooperating with the police. He also said protesters taken into custody must be released immediately.

A huge number of police personnel has been deployed in APMC area, while units of the local police, State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), Rapid Action Force (RAF), among others, have been stationed at vital points to maintain law and order, the official informed.

Manoj Jarange and his supporters left from his native Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna on January 20 to reach Mumbai to protest for Maratha quota.

The marchers, who are seeking distribution of Kunbi certificates to members of the Maratha community to allow it to get quota under the OBC segment, reached Navi Mumbai late Thursday night.