Activist Manoj Jarange-Patil demands Maratha community's rightful reservation

Manoj Jarange/ PTI

Activist Manoj Jarange-Patil, on Monday, reiterated the pressing demand for the Maratha community's "rightful reservation" in government jobs and educational institutions during a public meeting held in the Kharadi area of Pune, stated a report in PTI.

According to the report, Jarange-Patil, as part of his campaign to engage with Maratha communities across the state and amplify awareness regarding the reservation issue, highlighted the significance of ensuring reservation for the community.

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Addressing the gathering, he spoke about the revelations from the scrutiny of documents conducted by a government-appointed committee. According to Jarange-Patil, the examination of records unearthed approximately 29 lakh cases wherein references to "Kunbi" were found in documents pertaining to the Maratha community.

Jarange-Patil, expressing his astonishment, questioned why the Maratha community was being deprived of receiving reservations for seven decades despite the existence of evidence suggesting Kunbi antecedents among the populace. He emphasized the need to identify those responsible for denying the community their rightful reservation.

"If this is a fact, then why the Maratha community has been deprived of reservation for the last 70 years? If there are proofs of Marathas having Kunbi (antecedents) mentioned in the documents, we need to know the name of the person who did not allow Marathas to get a reservation," he said.

Asserting a stance of urgency, Jarange-Patil emphasized that the government would not be granted further leeway on this matter. "We demand our rightful reservation, and we are determined to secure it," he affirmed, underlining the community's unwavering stance on the issue.

The public meeting in Kharadi was preceded by a supportive bike rally organized in solidarity with Jarange-Patil's campaign.

Manoj Jarange-Patil ended his indefinite hunger strike for the quota issue on November 2. He, however, had warned the government of a larger protest if they didn't take action within two months to fulfil the community's reservation demands. He said that the community members, under his leadership, will take out a huge rally to Mumbai and added, "Then people of Mumbai won't even get vegetables."

The Maratha community has been advocating for reservation in education, and employment in the state and the movement gained momentum after Jarange's fast. There was widespread violence late in October over the issue with several MLAs' residences being torched.