OBC federation warns of stir if Jarange's Mumbai protest is allowed

Whether the administration will actually allow Manoj Jarange Patil to protest in Mumbai is currently being debated. National OBC federation president Dr Babanrao Taywade has taken a clear stand on the matter. He pointed out that the administration, with police help, has earlier succeeded in stopping many protests that lacked permission.

Taywade said the federation is closely watching both Jarange Patil and the government's stance. If Jarange Patil decides to go to Mumbai, what step the government takes will be important to watch, he said. The federation will also keep a close watch on whether the government's stance harms OBC reservation in any way. Dr Taywade issued a clear warning that if the government's stance turns out to hurt OBC reservation, the federation will take to the streets in protest along with the 60 percent OBC community.

The court has not yet taken any firm stand on Jarange Patil's proposed protest in Mumbai, because Jarange Patil has not yet announced he is going to Mumbai, Taywade noted. He said it will be important to see whether the administration actually grants permission for the protest once Jarange Patil announces his Mumbai visit. He also pointedly recalled that the administration has previously succeeded in stopping protests held without permission, and that such protests can again be stopped with the help of police and other agencies.

Taywade said the alleged attack on OBC leader Laxman Hake was condemnable. However, he said that since no detailed information about the incident has come out yet, it would not be right to react further on it.

Separately, the High Court had earlier made some important observations on Jarange's proposed protest in Mumbai. The court had made clear that Jarange Patil cannot be stopped from coming to Mumbai, and that he cannot be stopped this time either by citing last year's events. It had also noted that since this is a democracy, no one can be told not to go on a hunger strike, and that Jarange's protest cannot be interfered with. The court had said that where exactly in Mumbai Jarange will come is currently only speculation, and that on law-and-order related issues, only notices can be issued at present. The court had also said Jarange is a responsible person and that holding a protest is his fundamental right.