Maratha quota worker Jarange says, 'CM did a good job'. What changed overnight and Mumbai protest plan

Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil has called off his protest after the Eknath-Shinde led government brought a draft ordinance regarding his demands for the Maratha community.

Patil had earlier said he would enter Mumbai but camped outside Navi Mumbai with his supporters on Friday night. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde held a meeting with officials on the demands of the workers and later in the night sent a delegation with a draft ordinance.

The delegation included Social Justice Department Secretary Sumant Bhange, Aurangabad Divisional Commissioner Madhukar Arangal, Private Secretary to the Chief Minister Amol Shinde and others.

After the draft of the ordinance, Patil said, “Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has done a good job. Our protest is now over. Our request has been accepted. We will not accept his letter. I will drink juice from the Chief Minister tomorrow (Saturday).”

Maratha workers celebrated in Navi Mumbai after Patil announced ending their protests after the state government accepted their demands.

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The 40-year-old Maratha quota activist has called off his protest after receiving a draft ordinance from the Shinde-led government regarding his demands.
Maharashtra Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said, “The movement going on in Maharashtra for Maratha reservation under the leadership of Manoj Jarange Patil has reached a solution today…” He further said that Patil had met his demands. An announcement was made to end their protests as a solution.
Minister Lodha said that CM Shinde will break the fast of the Maratha workers by making them drink juice.
However, clarifying his stand, Patil said, “We have not given up our plan to march to Azad Maidan.” “If the government issues all orders related to our demands then we will go there to celebrate. If not, we will go on an indefinite hunger strike from tomorrow,” he was quoted as saying Hindustan Times,
CM Eknath Shinde had sent a delegation to meet Patil on Friday night with the draft of the ordinance.
Earlier, Patil had planned to hold a hunger strike at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai demanding amendment in the free education policy that would include all Marathas until the benefits of reservation are made valid for all.
Giving an 11 am ultimatum to the government, Patil had said, “I am taking a step back,” adding that he has stopped eating since Friday and is taking only water. “If an ordinance is not issued tonight (to meet their various demands), I will come to Mumbai tomorrow,” he said.
He had said that once he decided to go to Azad Maidan, he would not look back.
Their demands sought to amend the free education policy so that apart from girls, boys should also get free education and all Marathas should get free education from “KG to PG” (Kindergarten to Post Graduation) until the entire community gets reservation. Can’t get it.
Patil said he has sought data of 37 lakh Kunbi – farming community – certificates issued by the state government.
Kunbi comes under Other Backward Class (OBC) and Patil is demanding Kunbi certificate for all Marathas. “The government has told me that 54 lakh Kunbi records (records showing that a Maratha person/family belongs to the Kunbi community) have been found, of which 37 lakh certificates have been given. Who are these people? We need data,” he said.
He also said that at present the recruitment process for government jobs should be done by reserving some seats for Marathas.
He also asked for withdrawal of cases registered against Maratha activists during these protests.
After Patil announced the strike at Azad Maidan, a team of senior Mumbai Police officials, including Additional Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) Virendra Mishra, Additional Commissioner of Police (East) Vinayak Deshmukh and Deputy Commissioner of Police Purushottam Karad, went to meet the 40 people. -year worker. After which Patil said that he is cooperating with the police.
Despite the Mumbai Police not allowing the hunger strike in the city, Patil had announced on Thursday that he would begin his hunger strike at Azad Maidan from Friday.

Manoj Jarange Patil came into limelight in September 2023 when the police used force to disperse a mob on his indefinite fast at Antarwali Sarati. He later began another round of fast, forcing the state government to initiate discussions with him.

The Maharashtra government had earlier enacted legislation to provide reservation in government jobs and admission to educational institutions to the politically and numerically dominant Maratha community. However, the enacted law was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2021.

,With PTI inputs)