Manoj Jarange reiterates demand for Maratha reservation under Kunbi category

Maratha leader Manoj Jarange Patil has intensified his demand for reservation for the Maratha community under the Kunbi category stressing that poor children are suffering without it He urged the government to grant under 50 per cent reservation asserting ldquoAll Marathas should get at least under 50 per cent reservation My agitation is solely for the welfare of the Marathi people and societyrdquoJarange emphasised that nothing is bigger than his community not even politicians and vowed to win the support of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Deputy CM Shinde ldquoI will not shame the Maratha community or allow anyone else to do so Poor people need reservations and all Western Maharashtra residents will unite for this cause if necessaryrdquo he saidHe announced that the government has accepted the Maratha communityrsquos demand and has issued a Gazette Notification GR granting reservation under the OBC category Jarange warned the government to implement it without delay He stated that decisions must be taken by September 17 and any delay will force him to take stronger action ldquoGive Kunbi certificates to Maratha children in Marathwada as per the Gazette Do not disrespect Marathas If challenged I am prepared to annul the 1994 GRrdquo he saidJarange ended his fivedayold fast for quota in Mumbai on September 2 when the government announced forming a committee to issue Kunbi caste certificates to Maratha community members with historical evidence of their Kunbi heritage a social group classified as an Other Backward Class OBC in the stateJarange also asked people not to listen to rumours and confirmed that any previous conflicts would be resolved peacefully He urged everyone to maintain patience and ensure proper implementation warning that unregistered Marathas should be issued certificates in line with the GazetteSeptember 17 is observed as the Marathwada Liberation Day It marks the anniversary of Marathwadas integration with India and the annexation of Hyderabad state which was under the rule of the Nizam into the Union of IndiaMaharashtra Demands of the Koli community gain momentum amid Maratha reservation stirAs the agitation for Maratha reservation led by Manoj Jarange continues to dominate headlines other communities are beginning to voice their own longpending demands In a significant political development Vijay Vatevar has called upon senior OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal for a meeting to discuss the Maratha reservation issue Parallel to this the Koli community has also stepped forward with a fresh set of demands seeking justice and recognition for their membersThe Koli community including the Mahadev Koli Adivasi Koli and Malhar Koli subgroups is urging the government to immediately issue caste certificates to eligible citizens Leaders argue that despite being listed under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes many community members continue to face bureaucratic hurdles in obtaining official documentsOne of the primary demands is the issuance of a separate caste certificate for individuals within a bloodline to help establish their traditional professions Community representatives emphasise that the government should streamline the process and eliminate redundant documentationAnother key demand highlights the need to accept Koli records prior to 1950 as valid proof for caste certification The community believes that historic records are crucial for establishing their identity and rights especially for those who lack modern documentationIn addition the Koli community is calling on the authorities to recognise documents such as school leaving certificates TC caste certificates of ancestors 366 register entries and birth extracts as valid evidence for issuing caste certificatesA prominent banner at a recent gathering read ldquoGive caste certificates to the citizens of the Koli communityrdquo echoing the growing frustration among members who feel sidelined in the ongoing reservation debateAs discussions around Maratha reservation intensify the demands from three subcastes within the Banjara and Koli communities have added a new layer to the reservation discourse in Maharashtra The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the state government will address these emerging demands alongside the Maratha issue