Maratha Reservation Bill: Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange said that it does not matter whether the Maharashtra government gives 10 percent or 20 percent reservation to this community, but this reservation should be under the Other Backward Class (OBC) category and not separately. Speaking to reporters at Antarwali Sarti village in Jalna district, Jarang said he would wait and see whether the state government turns its draft notification on ‘blood relations’ of Kunbi Marathas into a law and then launch his agitation. Will decide about.
Manoj Jarange is adamant on his demand
Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil continues his hunger strike demanding implementation of ‘Sage Soyre’. The Maratha Reservation Bill for reservation in education and jobs was passed by the Maharashtra Assembly and Legislative Council yesterday.
The Maratha reservation activist said, “The government is giving us what we do not want. We want reservation in the Other Backward Class (OBC) category, but they are giving us a separate quota instead. If the government does not discuss and implement the draft notification on reservation for blood relatives of Kunbi Marathas, we will decide on the direction of the agitation tomorrow.” When asked about the state government’s proposal to give separate 10 percent reservation to Marathas, Jarange said it does not matter whether the government gives 10 percent or 20 percent reservation for the community, but it should be under the OBC category. , not separately.
He criticized the government for trying to divert the reservation issue and alleged that it was working under the influence of minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who is opposing the “backdoor entry” of Marathas into OBC reservation. “A separate reservation outside the OBC category could face legal challenges, as doing so could exceed the reservation limit of 50 per cent,” he said. Jarange is on hunger strike since 10th February. This is the fourth time in less than a year that Jarange has gone on a hunger strike demanding inclusion of the Maratha community in the OBC group.