Govt cannot handle agitation If Maratha quota demands not met by Dec 24: Jarange

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Tuesday while reminding the Maharashtra government of the December 24 deadline he set before it to give reservation to the community said if the demand is not fulfilled by that time then after that the agitation cannot be handled by the governmentAddressing a rally in Thane Jarange urged the Maharashtra state government to pass a bill to provide reservation to Marathas in the upcoming winter session of the state legislature instead of convening a special session for it news wire PTI reportedThe government is left with no other option but to give reservation to his community Jarange who has been leading the latest agitation to seek quota for the Maratha community in government jobs and education under the OBC category saidThe Maharashtra government can pass a bill in the upcoming session of the state legislature scheduled to be held from December 7 Instead of calling a special session give reservation to Marathas in the coming session itself based on the latest Kunbi record findings he saidThe people whose records are not available the formula of 2001 Reservation Act be applied to grant quota he said CM Shinde has the capacity to take a decision on this he said The Maratha community will hold him in high regard if he does soWe do not force you but we are confident that you will take a decision in favour of Marathas he saidIf the reservation is not given by December 24 then we will decide our future course of action From December 25 the agitation will become such that the government will not be able to handle it Jarange warnedAlso read Maharashtra Activist Manoj Jarange warns of protests if innocent Marathas targeted for Beed violenceSpeaking at the Ram Ganesh Gadkari Rangayatan auditorium in the city he also alleged that as the state government does not want to give reservation to Marathas it was trying to divide society on caste linesWe have to wait till December 24 for the reservation bill to be passed Till then these are testing times for all of us he saidThe Maratha community has won 85 per cent of the quota battle and only the last part is remaining he saidThis is a critical phase and we have to remain alert Maintain peace as there will be attempts to provoke you and divert your attention but you should not fall prey to any such tactics he told the people from the Maratha communityWarning the government he said Do not not hold six crore Marathas to ransom The community should be given its rightful reservationWhen we gave a jolt to the government the authorities found the Kunbi records of 32 lakh people This will benefit around 150 crore people he saidWithout naming Maharashtra minister and Other Backward Classes OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal Jarange slammed him saying he will have to face the consequences later onBhujbal an NCP leader has been at the forefront in opposing the demands of Jarange to provide reservation from the OBC quotaJarange said that due to the fast undertaken by him for the quota demand he has become very weak physicallyBut do not go by my appearance I can face any situation and hit back They should keep this in mind I do not get enough sleep and have to address several meetings It is due to the wholehearted support of so many people from the community that I remain energetic he saidJarange reiterated that he will continue to fight for the cause till he is aliveMy only dream is I have to give something back to the people of the caste in which I was born I want to see smile on the faces of the children of Marathas by getting them the rightful reservation This will be the victory of the unity of Marathas and not of any individual he saidOn his arrival in Thane Jarange was given a warm welcome by Maratha organisations and members of the communityAt Majiwada junction 11 JCBs were used for showering flower petals on him Amid the beating of drums and other traditional instruments a roadshow was taken out with Jarange standing on a vehicle and waving at people With inputs from PTI