Maratha quota: Don't take wrong path after getting threatened by reservation deadline, Wadettiwar tells govt

Vijay Wadettiwar. File Pic

Maratha quota: The Maharashtra government must not get threatened by the ultimatum given by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange and end up taking up the wrong path and subjecting members of the Other Backward Classes to injustice, senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said on Thursday, reported the PTI.

According to the PTI, activist Manoj Jarange withdrew his indefinite fast on November 2 and set a deadline of December 24 for implementation of Maratha quota.

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Speaking to reporters at Nagpur airport, the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly on being asked about Manoj Jarange's deadline said, "The government should not take the wrong path by getting threatened and do injustice to others. We have never opposed quota for Marathas but it must not be given from the share of the OBCs," as per the PTI.

Asked about the video uploaded by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare on social media showing some persons giving packets to prisoners inside a police van on Pune's jail road, Wadettiwar said people were losing faith in the state home department.

While escorting prisoners from jails to courts and back, vehicles are not supposed to halt en route but the video clearly shows police are misusing their power, Wadettiwar said.

Just suspension of a few police personnel won't do and the state government and the home department must think about how to revive their sullied image, the Congress leader added.

Meanwhile, Manoj Jarange on Thursday said that he will tour parts of Maharashtra from November 15 to raise awareness about his demand of reservation for the Maratha community, reported the PTI.

Manoj Jarange also appealed to people not to give a single rupee for his tour, if anyone asks for it, as the tour participants were making their own arrangements.
"This agitation is not for earning money," he said holding a press meet at a hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar where he is currently under treatment after ending his fast for the quota demand last week, as per the PTI.

The activist had earlier visited parts of western Maharashtra before he went on a hunger strike last month during the second phase of agitation for the Maratha quota.

(with PTI inputs)