MP Jyoti Wagmare warns Jarange Patil against attacking Eknath Shinde

The government is sensitive to the demands of the Maratha community and everyone has the right to protest, but criticism of Shiv Sena leader and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde under the cover of the agitation will not be tolerated. This warning was issued to Manoj Jarange Patil by Shiv Sena MP Dr Jyoti Wagmare. Wagmare was speaking at a press conference held at Balasaheb Bhavan in Mumbai.

Dr Wagmare said Eknath Shinde, as Chief Minister, had taken the historic decision to give the Maratha community 10 percent reservation. Along with this, the Justice Shinde committee and the Justice Shukre commission were set up to start the process of issuing Kunbi certificates to Marathas. Lakhs of Kunbi documents were examined, clearing the way for issuing Kunbi certificates. A decision was taken and implemented to give Maratha candidates jobs on 5,200 supernumerary posts in the state. Dr Wagmare said those who ask what Eknath Shinde has done should look at these decisions he took for the Maratha community.

She further said the interest-free loan limit under the Annasaheb Patil Economic Development Corporation was raised from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh. The corporation has so far disbursed more than Rs 1,670 crore in loans, benefiting more than 1 lakh 70 thousand Maratha brothers. Families of 36 people who lost their lives in the Maratha reservation agitation were given Rs 10 lakh each, and the heirs of 20 deceased were given jobs in the State Transport department. Daughters from the EWS, SEBC and OBC categories were given a full fee waiver in more than 800 professional courses including medicine and engineering. The state government gave the Sarathi institution funding of Rs 300 crore, provided free land for its 6 divisional offices and two sub-centres, and gave Rs 42 crore for its Pune office. Dr Wagmare said Eknath Shinde himself was born in a farmer's household and rose to the post of Chief Minister as a man of the Maratha community, so his concern for Maratha brothers is genuine and his intent to secure justice for the community is clear.

Dr Wagmare said Jarange should also think about those who mock the Maratha community's silent marches, and about Shinde, who has worked hard for the welfare of the Maratha community. She said if Jarange understood the decisions Shinde has taken for the Maratha community and the benefits the community has gained from them, he would stop his criticism. She said the Maratha community too will not tolerate criticism of Shinde. She said the government is sensitive to the demands of the Maratha community and issues can be resolved through dialogue, so the atmosphere in the state should not be disturbed around Ganeshotsav and Navratri. She said everyone should ensure that Maharashtra's social unity and integrity is preserved.

On the demand to freeze the bow-and-arrow symbol, Dr Wagmare launched a sharp attack on Sanjay Raut. She said the bow-and-arrow is not just an election symbol but the pride of Marathi people and the life of every Shiv Sainik. She asked how there is no shame in demanding that the bow-and-arrow, which Balasaheb worshipped in his household shrine, be frozen. According to her, the bow-and-arrow symbol had been pledged to the Congress, and Eknath Shinde retrieved it with honour and saved its dignity. Dr Wagmare said those demanding the symbol be frozen have self-respect and Marathi identity ingrained in their blood, which is why they are making such a demand.