Maratha quota activist Ajay Barskar attacks Jarange, says he should be sent Oscar nomination

The political atmosphere in Maharashtra has heated up ahead of Manoj Jarange Patil's planned agitation in Mumbai. As Jarange Patil prepares for the protest, the number of his critics is also rising. Against this backdrop, Maratha reservation researcher Ajay Barskar has launched a sharp attack on him, adding further to the charged atmosphere.

Barskar said Jarange Patil's agitation is fake, calling him directly "phoney" and "a man who is acting". He alleged that Jarange keeps switching between different postures, sometimes speaking with fervour, sometimes making people laugh, and at other times making them cry. This changing style itself raises questions about the genuineness of his agitation, Barskar said. Taking a dig, he said a nomination for the Oscars should be sent for Jarange.

Barskar also criticised a statement Jarange Patil made at a press conference, "I am begging". According to Barskar, earlier large numbers of people used to join the agitation even without being asked, and Jarange did not have to request anyone. But now the situation has changed, and he has to request people to participate, Barskar claimed.

Barskar also questioned Jarange Patil's decision to change the route to Mumbai this time. He alleged the route was changed because Jarange realised the earlier route, from which large numbers of people used to come, would not get a response this time. Asking "I went to Mumbai three times, what came of it?", he demanded that Jarange clearly explain the purpose of going to Mumbai. He also criticised that even after a press conference lasting an hour and a half, the exact objective of the agitation was not made clear.

Barskar also alleged that the Maratha community has suffered losses because of Jarange Patil's agitation. He questioned what exactly Jarange's demand is and how it would be fulfilled within the legal framework. He also made several allegations about ED notices, the source of money, vehicles and the cost of treatment. However, these are all Barskar's own allegations and have not been independently verified.

Meanwhile, attention is on what response the government gives to Jarange Patil's agitation and how many people actually gather in Mumbai. It also remains to be seen how Jarange Patil or his supporters respond to Barskar's criticism.