Minister flags Jarange's language, raises issue with Fadnavis in cabinet meeting
Ministers reportedly told CM Devendra Fadnavis they were unhappy with Manoj Jarange's language as he set out on his Mumbai march for Maratha reservation.
The Maratha reservation issue has once again heated up state politics. Manoj Jarange Patil has set out for Mumbai, and sources say that at today's state cabinet meeting, displeasure was expressed over the language he has been using, just as his march got under way.
Several ministers reportedly told Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that the language Jarange is using is not appropriate, expressing strong displeasure. According to sources, in discussions after the meeting, ministers said the state government is taking important decisions for the Maratha community, and in that context the attitude of the agitators is objectionable.
Notably, some ministers also raised the question of why the agitation in Mumbai is being carried out during a Hindu festival.
Meanwhile, Manoj Jarange has already left Antarwali Sarati for Mumbai. Today's leg of his journey will take him to Patoda in Beed district. Elaborate arrangements have been made in the Patoda area to welcome Jarange. Fourteen large community food stalls have been set up along the route from Manjarsumba to Patoda, while 11 have been set up in Patoda town itself. Parking arrangements have also been made at around 25 locations. Volunteers have been deployed to ensure Maratha supporters attending Jarange's meeting and his halting place do not face any difficulty.
As Jarange heads towards Mumbai, Maratha coordinators visited Azad Maidan in Mumbai. Mumbai Police have not granted permission for the agitation, but the visit was carried out in view of the preparations. Maratha coordinator Prashant Sawant inspected Azad Maidan.
Manoj Jarange has put forward 13 key demands for the Maratha reservation agitation. These include distribution of certificates based on Kunbi records found by the Shinde Committee, implementation of the Hyderabad Gazette, government resolutions for various gazetteers, withdrawal of cases registered against agitators, a separate ministry for Maratha-Kunbi affairs, Kunbi certificates and their validity, extension of facilities available to OBCs, implementation of Sarathi schemes, assistance to families of Maratha men who lost their lives during the agitation, directions to the Shinde Committee to search for records again, appointments for those selected under EWS/SEBC/ESBC, refund of interest amount by the Annasaheb Patil Mahamandal, and immediate implementation of the sage-soyare notification.
Now, after Jarange reaches Mumbai, the entire state is watching how the government responds to his agitation and whether permission for the protest at Azad Maidan is granted.
