Manoj Jarange Patil, a Maratha quota campaigner, has called off his protest after the Maharashtra government, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, replied to the requests with a draft ordinance on reservation in education and jobs for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
Jarange Patil, who had previously threatened to march to Mumbai if his demands were not satisfied by Saturday am, has paused his protest and tented in Navi Mumbai with thousands of followers. After meeting with authorities to consider Jarange’s demands, Chief Minister Shinde sent a delegation late Friday night with a draft ordinance that addressed the activist’s concerns.
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The delegation included Sumant Bhange, the secretary of the social justice department, Madhukar Arangal, the divisional commissioner of Aurangabad, Amol Shinde, the chief minister’s personal secretary, and others.
Jarange Patil expressed pleasure with the government’s response, saying, “Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has done a good job.” Our demonstration is done. Our request has been approved. We will receive the letter from him. Tomorrow (Saturday), I shall sip juice from the hands of the chief minister.
The Maratha community, which seeks quota in education and employment under the OBC category, has been a focus of negotiations between community leaders and state officials. Patil, who launched a new hunger strike in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, on Friday, had set forth specific demands, including free education from kindergarten to postgraduate level, Kunbi certificates for all Marathas, and reservation of seats for Marathas in government employment recruitments.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar showed his support for quota for the Maratha community and stated that CM Shinde was actively involved in addressing the matter via conversation.
Despite called off the demonstration, Patil stated that “we have not abandoned our plans to march to Azad Maidan (in Mumbai).”
“We will go there to rejoice if the government provides all orders in response to our requests. If not, we will launch an indefinite hunger strike beginning tomorrow.”
The Maharashtra government’s draft ordinance meets numerous important Maratha community requests, indicating a potential settlement to the state’s long-standing quota problem.
