Maratha quota stir to continue till govt relaxes condition of genealogy, says Manoj Jarange

Pic/PTI

Maratha quota protester Manoj Jarange, who has been on a hunger strike in Maharashtra's Jalna district, said on Thursday that their agitation will continue till the state relaxes the condition of genealogy while giving Kunbi caste certificate to the community members from the Marathwada region, reported news agency PTI.

He was speaking a day after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that Kunbi caste certificates would be issued to those Marathas from the region who possess revenue or education documents from the Nizam era that recognise them as Kunbis.

The Marathwada region was part of the erstwhile Nizam-ruled Hyderabad kingdom before it became part of Maharashtra.

Addressing a press conference at Antarwali Sarathi in the district, Manoj Jarange welcomed the state's decision and said it has initiated some steps that had not happened earlier. However, he appeared far from pleased.

"Though we have not received the GR (Government Resolution) about the government's decision yet, we learnt that it will give Kunbi caste certificates to those Marathas who have genealogy. If we have genealogy, we do not need a GR at all to get a (Kunbi caste) certificate," Manoj Jarange was quoted as saying by PTI.

Kunbis, a community associated with agriculture, are grouped under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category in Maharashtra and enjoy reservation benefits in education and government jobs.

Jarange, whose protest has reignited the Maratha quota issue in the state, said they want the condition of genealogy relaxed.

"Kunbi caste certificates should be given to the Maratha community members from Marathwada without any discrimination. Someone from the government should come with a GR specifying it and then we will end the agitation," Manoj Jarange was quoted as saying by PTI.

The present condition won't be of any help to those who do not have documents to prove their line of descent, he said.

"We are thankful to the government for starting some process at last. We are ready to walk ten steps forward but take the decision of giving Kunbi certificates without any discrimination and relax the condition of genealogy," Manoj Jarange was quoted as saying by PTI.

The chief minister's announcement came after protests by members of the Maratha community across the state in view of police action on pro-quota protesters in Jalna district on September 1.

The police had baton charged and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse a violent mob at Antarwali Sarathi after protesters allegedly refused to let authorities shift Jarange, who is on a hunger strike, to the hospital.

(With inputs from PTI)