“D Fadnavis is trying to divide Marathas”: quota movement leader hits out

Manoj Jarange Patil came into limelight due to his hunger strike demanding reservation for Marathas.

Mumbai:

Launching a scathing attack on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Maratha reservation movement leader Manoj Jarange Patil today accused the BJP leader of hatching a conspiracy to deprive members of the community of quota benefits. Speaking to the media, Mr Patil threatened to launch a march to Mr Fadnavis’s house today.

“Fadnavis has taken the decision without involving (Chief Minister Eknath) Shinde. Everything is happening on his instructions, he is running the state. Does Fadnavis want me to sacrifice myself? I will march to his bungalow. If you If you stop me, you can,” said Mr Patil, who came into limelight for his hunger strike demanding reservation for Marathas.

The Maharashtra Assembly last week passed a resolution to provide quota benefits to the politically influential community, which constitutes about 30 per cent of the state’s population.

However, Mr Patil has said that the new law is not in line with their demands. After the bill was approved, Mr. Patil said, “We want reservation which we are entitled to, give reservation under OBC category to those people who have proof of being Kunbi. For those who do not have proof, ‘Sage Soire’ Pass a law.” gathering. Leaders of the reservation movement are demanding benefits for the blood relations of members of the Kunbi sub-caste among the Marathas. Kunbis get reservation in OBC category.

During the agitation, Mr Patil had demanded that all members of the Maratha community be considered Kunbi and given reservation under the OBC quota, but the state government decided that only those with Nizam-era Kunbi certificates would get the benefit.

“Fadnavis is trying to create a rift within the Maratha community,” he alleged. Efforts are being made to eliminate big communities and give more importance to small communities.

Mr Patil said he was not affiliated with any political party. He said, “I am a farmer’s son. I will not spare Fadnavis. An attempt is being made to eliminate the Maratha community and defame me. Fadnavis will be wiped out. I will ensure that the relatives (of Marathas) Get the benefit of quota.”

The law brought by the Eknath Shinde government is the third attempt in a decade to provide reservation benefits to the Maratha community. Two earlier attempts, during the tenures of Congress’s Prithviraj Chavan and Mr Fadnavis, were rejected by the courts.

A major factor behind the failures of the earlier laws was the fact that it took the quantum of total reservation beyond the 50 per cent limit set by the Supreme Court.

The opposition has warned that the law ultimately would not pass judicial testing.

Veteran leader Sharad Pawar has said that it is similar to the one brought by the Devendra Fadnavis government. “We need to see what happens to the new bill in the Supreme Court,” he said. State Congress chief Nana Patole has criticized the BJP for bringing the law just before the elections. “These types of laws were brought twice, but they were scrapped and put in the dustbin in the Supreme Court. In 2019, they did it to win elections and now also they did it to win elections. They are taking credit for it. Want.” This will not work because it is done only for the sake of elections to get the votes of the Maratha community,” the Congress leader has said.

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) has welcomed the law, but said nothing can be said until it is implemented. Taking a dig at his former lieutenant Eknath Shinde, Mr Thackeray said, “Everyone knows the history of the CM (Shinde). So, nothing can be said unless what he has said is implemented.” Could.”