28 February,2024 01:26 PM IST | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | mid-day online correspondent
Manoj Jarange/ File Photo
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who is under fire for his remarks against Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has encouraged community members to write emails and letters to the prime minister and Maharashtra chief minister voicing their concerns against the alleged "suppression" of the Maratha quota agitation.
Speaking from a hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where Jarange Patil is presently receiving treatment after ending his fast, he expressed apprehension about his potential arrest and urged the community to remain calm while advocating for their demands, reported PTI.
He reiterated his demand to make the 'sage soyare' draft notification a law; the notification was issued in January to give certificates to qualifying Kunbi (OBC) Marathas. He criticised the recent 10 per cent quota given to Marathas by the government.
On Tuesday, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar announced an SIT probe into allegations made by Jarange Patil against Deputy CM Fadnavis. The Maratha quota activist had also spoken about the government in an abusive language recently, the report stated.
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"Dictatorship is going on. Even the British (rulers) did not do this. I spoke about Devendra Fadnavis, and his party leaders who are Marathas became angry. If they were Marathas, they would have spoken to their leader and asked him to implement the quota for relatives (of Marathas). I know they are going to arrest me. But the community should remain calm and see what steps the government initiates over the Maratha quota agitation issue," he told PTI.
The Maratha quota activist, according to the PTI report, said that even if he goes to jail, he will remain steadfast in his demand for obtaining reservation as Kunbis and withdrawal of cases registered against the community members over their agitation.
"The community people should remain calm and write emails to the president, prime minister, governor and chief minister and urge them to stop the suppression of the Maratha quota agitation," he further said.
Reportedly, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde questioned Jarange's motives. He, during his speech in the Assembly, lamented that the activist keeps changing his demands.
Meanwhile, NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar leader Sharad Pawar dismissed BJP's allegations dubbing him as the reason for Jarange's statements; he termed the allegations "childish".
