Will upgrade Manoj Jarange's security if needed, says govt after claims about drone surveillance

Manoj Jarange. File Pic

Maharashtra Minister Shambhuraj Desai on Tuesday said the government will seek a report from the Jalna police regarding claims that Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange's village was under drone surveillance, reported news agency PTI.

If needed, the activist's security will be upgraded, the minister said in the assembly while responding to the concerns raised by the Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar, reported PTI.

Wadettiwar alleged that Manoj Jarange's Antarwali Sarati was under drone surveillance and the government must provide security to him.

Raising the issue in the assembly, Waddetiwar claimed that the activist's life may be in danger, reported PTI.

Antarwali Sarati has become the epicentre for protests for reservations for the Maratha community in government jobs and education.

"Everyone has a right to protest, and if the village is under drone surveillance, it is not good. Villagers are scared," the Congress leader claimed, reported PTI.

Desai said the government will seek a report from the Jalna superintendent of police and take appropriate action.

"Manoj Jarange had been provided armed security earlier. If needed, the security will be upgraded," he said.

Meanwhile, villagers in Antarwali Sarati claimed to have seen a drone camera flying over the house of the village sarpanch, Kaushalyabai Tarakh, where Manoj Jarange is residing.

According to villagers, this was the second spotting in less than a week.

A video has surfaced on social media, which shows Jarange pointing at the drone, reported PTI.

"I have seen the drone myself. Some individuals are playing an evil trick to intimidate us, but we are not afraid. These tactics will not deter us from our struggle," Jarange says in the video, reported PTI.

Jarange, who suspended his indefinite fast last month, has been demanding implementation of the draft notification that recognises Kunbis as "sage soyare" (blood relatives) of Maratha community members and also seeking a law to identify Kunbis as Marathas, reported PTI.

Kunbi, an agrarian group, falls under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, and the activist has been demanding that Kunbi certificates be issued to all Marathas, thus making them eligible for quota benefits.

(With inputs from PTI)