Don’t test our patience: Jarange

Mumbai: Maratha quota agitation leader Manoj Jarange continued his indefinite hunger strike at historic Azad Maidan here on the second day on Saturday, warning the government that it should not test the patience of the community.

Jarange and thousands of his supporters braved the overnight rain, battled the mud on the ground and bemoaned the lack of basic amenities, including a paucity of water in the toilets.

Speaking to reporters at Azad Maidan, where he launched an indefinite fast on Friday, the 43-year-old activist said that the government should not spread misinformation that the Marathas are seeking reservation from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota.

"We are only demanding that we get our rightful share of quota based on the eligibility under the Kunbi category," he said.

Jarange has been demanding a 10 per cent quota for Marathas under the OBC category. He wants Marathas to be recognised as Kunbis — an agrarian caste included in the OBC category — which will make them eligible for reservation in government jobs and education.

"We don't want to indulge in politics. We only want a reservation. The government should not test the patience of the Maratha community," he warned.

"We are not asking to reduce the OBC quota. Don't spread misinformation," he charged.

The activist further urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis not to insult poor Marathas.

He accused Fadnavis of trying to create instability and vitiate the atmosphere in the state.

Fadnavis had on Friday said that the state government is positive about resolving the issues of the Marathas, if they are social and financial in nature, and not related to political reservation.

The chief minister assured that the cabinet sub-committee on issues related to the Maratha community is discussing Jarange's demands and will find a solution within the constitutional framework.

The ruling Mahayuti and Opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) have criticised each other over the situation in Mumbai, especially when the Ganesh festival was underway.

MVA leaders have said the government should talk to Jarange, and the only solution was for the Centre to waive the 50 per cent cap on reservations and conduct a caste census.

Traffic affected

Traffic came to a standstill outside the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and the surrounding areas, with the police struggling to convince protesters to clear the route.

As puddles formed at the protest venue due to overnight showers, agitators gathered at the junction outside the CSMT.

Many complained of food scarcity, alleging that the government had shut shops around the protest site. They also claimed that the ground lacked adequate facilities to ensure their safety and hygiene.

In January this year, Jarange called off his hunger strike on the sixth day, after BJP MLA Suresh Dhas intervened on behalf of the state government.

It was his seventh such protest since 2023. Jarange had then announced that if the promised measures were not implemented swiftly, he would lead a major agitation in Mumbai.

Declare Marathwada's Marathas as Kunbis, give quota

Manoj Jarange on Saturday told a delegation led by retired High Court judge Sandeep Shinde that the government must declare all Marathas of Marathwada as Kunbis and be given reservation.

The delegation met Jarange at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai on Saturday afternoon. Jarange said the committee under retired judge Shinde had studied gazettes related to the issue for the past 13 months and now it was time for the panel to submit its report to pave the way for Marathas to get Kunbi status.

"Marathas in Marathwada must be declared as Kunbis and given reservation. The Hyderabad and Satara gazettes must be made into law for this," Jarange said.

In response, retired judge Shinde said he wasn't authorised to give such a report.

It was the job of the backward class commission, Shinde said.

"Caste certificate is given to individuals and not the entire community," he added.

The entire conservation between Shinde and Jarange was beamed live on Marathi news channels.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Jarange slammed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for deputing retired judge Shinde to hold talks with him.

"It is not Justice Shinde's job to issue GR (government resolution) declaring Marathas and Kunbis as the same. It is an insult of the government, Raj Bhavan and state to send Justice Shinde here," he said.

In principle approval

Shinde told reporters the cabinet had given in principle approval to the Hyderabad Gazette.

"I will go back to the cabinet sub-committee with details of my discussion with Jarange," he added.

Justice (retd) Sandeep Shinde heads the committee formed in September 2023 by the then Eknath Shinde government to decide the methodology for issuing ‘Kunbi’ caste certificates to members of the Maratha community.

The committee was asked to study the records of the former Hyderabad and Bombay states where Marathas are sometimes mentioned as Kunbis. Initially appointed for the region of Marathwada, its scope was later extended to cover the entire state.

“A constitutional amendment was necessary to resolve these issues, as there is a ceiling on overall reservations. As many as 80 percent Marathas are dependent on farming, but agriculture alone cannot secure their future, making reservations the only option.”

Sharad Pawar, President, NCP (SP)

“In view of the ongoing agitation at Azad Maidan under the leadership of Manoj Jarange-Patil, I humbly request that a one-day special session of the Maharashtra legislature be convened so that reservation can be granted to the Maratha community.”

Samadhan Awatade, BJP MLA, Pandharpur-Mangalwedha

“The answer to all these questions will be given by Eknath Shinde. Hadn't Shinde gone to Navi Mumbai and solved the issue? Then why this agitation again. Everybody knows what happened in the past, so all these questions must be addressed to Shinde.”

Raj Thackeray, Chief, MNS

“What is the issue in amending the Constitution to fulfil the economic and social demands of the Maratha community, which has hit the streets? When MVA was in power and the BJP was in the Opposition, Devendra Fadnavis had accused it of not having the political will to address the Maratha quota issue, but he is now talking about constitutional hurdles in resolving the matter.”

Sanjay Raut, Leader, Shiv Sena (UBT)