top of page

By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Maratha quota stir poised for revival

Manoj Jarange issues August ultimatum as CM cites record certificate distribution Mumbai: Maharashtra is bracing for renewed political turbulence as the Maratha quota agitation threatens to engulf the state once again. Prominent activist Manoj Jarange Patil has sounded a clarion call for a final, decisive protest beginning August 29, marking the third anniversary of the community’s relentless struggle. In stark contrast, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has stepped in to defuse the escalating...

Maratha quota stir poised for revival

Manoj Jarange issues August ultimatum as CM cites record certificate distribution Mumbai: Maharashtra is bracing for renewed political turbulence as the Maratha quota agitation threatens to engulf the state once again. Prominent activist Manoj Jarange Patil has sounded a clarion call for a final, decisive protest beginning August 29, marking the third anniversary of the community’s relentless struggle. In stark contrast, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has stepped in to defuse the escalating tensions, asserting that the government remains highly responsive to the community’s demands and that the pendency of caste certificates is virtually negligible. Addressing a massive press conference at Antarwali Sarati in the Jalna district of Marathwada, Jarange Patil expressed deep frustration with the state administration. He accused the government of deliberately deceiving the Maratha community and employing delaying tactics. According to the activist, the state has discovered approximately 58 lakh Kunbi caste records, yet the administration continues to withhold vital Kunbi certificates from eligible Maratha community members. Issuing a stern ultimatum, he demanded that caste certificates based on the Hyderabad gazette be issued to all rightful beneficiaries by August 28. Failing this, he warned, a massive mobilization will commence from every village across the state starting August 19. He passionately stated that the community has been sacrificing its blood for the youth for three years and will not back down until the issue reaches a logical conclusion. Robust Defence Countering these allegations, CM Fadnavis presented a robust defence of the Mahayuti government’s track record while speaking to the media in Nagpur. He emphasised that caste certificates are processed and issued promptly upon request. He firmly stated that everyone who has applied for a caste certificate has received it, adding that the number of pending cases is exceedingly low. Fadnavis dismissed the notion that certificates are being arbitrarily denied, reinforcing that the current administration has made and executed more pro-Maratha decisions than any previous government. He maintained a conciliatory tone, noting that the administration remains open to dialogue and is willing to find constructive solutions if any genuine grievances persist. Progress Report The state government’s claims are corroborated by the latest progress report from the Justice Sandeep Shinde committee, which was established to oversee the distribution of Maratha-Kunbi, Kunbi-Maratha, and Kunbi certificates. As of July 27, 2026, the data from the Divisional Commissionerate in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar paints a picture of swift administrative action in Marathwada. Out of a total of 311,609 applications received, a staggering 311,033 applicants have been successfully issued Kunbi certificates. Only 515 applications faced rejection, while a mere 61 remain pending across the division. Furthermore, officials noted that 72,012 certificates have been distributed in the region from September 2025 to the present date. A district-wise analysis of the Marathwada region highlights this extensive distribution network. In Beed district, the administration achieved a near-perfect clearance rate, distributing 206,789 certificates against 206,799 applications, with zero pending files currently. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar saw 25,211 certificates issued from 25,295 applications, leaving only 15 pending. Similarly, Jalna district processed 18,128 applications to distribute 18,053 certificates, with just 13 awaiting approval. Parbhani and Hingoli districts reported the distribution of 20,832 and 13,286 certificates, respectively, with negligible pendency. Nanded district cleared all its 4,841 applications with no backlog, while Latur and Dharashiv districts successfully distributed 2,751 and 19,281 certificates, respectively. Demands’ Charter Despite these administrative milestones, Jarange Patil has expanded his charter of demands, intensifying his critique of the state’s welfare mechanisms. He has now called for the creation of a dedicated Maratha welfare department, questioning why the Maratha community cannot have a separate ministry similar to the one existing for OBCs. He alleged that nine ministers in the current coalition are actively opposing this proposal, threatening to expose their names during the mega rally on August 29. Furthermore, he lashed out at the government over the systemic failure in implementing existing welfare schemes. He claimed that despite official resolutions granting Maratha students parity with OBC students, educational institutions are not enforcing these benefits at the school and college levels. He also accused the state of shutting down initiatives under the Sarathi institute and noted that flawed loan processes under the Annasaheb Patil Corporation are turning into bad debts, effectively ruining the CIBIL scores of young entrepreneurs. Capping off his grievances, Jarange Patil alleged a discriminatory bias in government recruitment, questioning the state administration over what he termed an “apartheid” against Maratha candidates.

Asian markets crash as Donald Trump’s tariff war sparks global selloff



Asian stock markets tumbled Monday as U.S. futures forecast sharp losses on Wall Street, sparked by President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policies. While several nations scrambled to seek compromise, Trump showed little sign of backing down.


Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump denied deliberately triggering the market slump, asserting he couldn’t predict market movements and would not strike any trade deals unless America’s deficits were addressed.


“Sometimes medicine is necessary,” he said, referring to the staggering losses—measured in trillions—U.S. companies have suffered since his tariff campaign began.


Over the weekend, Trump claimed that numerous world leaders had approached him, eager to negotiate. “They’re dying to make a deal,” he insisted.


Following last week's close of Asian trading, China announced retaliatory tariffs of 34% on all U.S. imports, to take effect April 10. The news hit markets hard when trading resumed Monday.


The Nikkei 225 in Japan dropped a staggering 6.5%, Taiwan’s index plunged nearly 10%, and Singapore’s was down 8.5% early Monday.


On Wall Street, futures contracts for key U.S. indices pointed sharply downward Sunday night. Meanwhile, U.S. crude oil prices dipped below $60 per barrel—a level not seen since April 2021.


Allies Caught in the Crossfire

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose country faces 17% tariffs despite close ties with Washington, is flying to the U.S. for high-stakes talks with Trump.


British Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote in a weekend op-ed that the old global order had collapsed. “The world as we knew it has gone,” he warned, emphasizing that new relationships would now depend on strategic “deals and alliances.”


Trump’s staggered tariff deadlines have allowed limited time for countries to negotiate exemptions. However, the president has maintained a firm stance, warning against retaliation.


White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett told ABC’s This Week that more than 50 nations had reached out to initiate negotiations, citing data from the U.S. Trade Representative’s office.


Vietnam, one of the U.S.'s largest export partners in the first quarter, has formally requested a 45-day delay on the recently announced 46% tariffs.

“These countries know they’re absorbing much of the tariff impact,” Hassett explained, arguing the duties wouldn’t result in significant price hikes for American consumers. “I don’t think you’ll see a major effect on the U.S. consumer,” he added.


Market Carnage Continues

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent echoed the figure of 50 nations reaching out, but made clear Trump holds the final decision.


“At this point, he has maximum leverage,” Bessent said on NBC’s Meet the Press. “It depends what these countries bring to the table—and whether it’s credible.”


He also pointed out that many countries had acted unfairly for years, and resolving such issues wouldn’t happen “in days or weeks.”


Despite hopes for last-minute talks, markets across Asia continued to suffer. On Sunday, Saudi Arabia’s stock exchange fell 6.78%, marking its worst single-day loss since the COVID-19 crisis.


Former Obama-era economic advisor Larry Summers warned of continued turbulence. “There’s a strong chance we’ll see more market volatility like we did on Thursday and Friday,” he said.


Still, Peter Navarro, Trump’s key trade advisor, urged investors to stay calm. “You can’t lose money unless you sell,” he said, predicting the market would soon deliver “the biggest boom we’ve ever seen.”


Russia Left Out

Notably, Russia was excluded from the latest round of U.S. tariffs. Hassett explained that ongoing discussions over the Ukraine conflict played a role in its exemption. A White House official added Wednesday that trade with Russia was already minimal due to sanctions.


Trump has long argued that America has been exploited by trading partners and views tariffs as a tool to level the playing field.


“Someday people will realize that tariffs, for the United States of America, are a very beautiful thing!” he wrote Sunday on Truth Social.


Still, many economists caution that tariffs often burden consumers through higher prices, and warn that the long-term impact may hit Americans harder than expected.

Comments

bottom of page