Maratha Quota Stir: Jarange Ends Protest, Says Maha CM Eknath Shinde Has 'Accepted All Demands'
The decision occurred after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met with a delegation of officials at Varsha, the Maharashtra CM's official house.
The Maharashtra government has accepted “all demands” regarding the Maratha quota on Friday night. Following this, pro-Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil announced to call off the protests. Speaking with media, Patil stated: "Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has done a good job. Our protest is now over. Our request has been accepted. We will accept the letter from him. I will drink juice by the hands of the Chief Minister tomorrow (Saturday)," news agency ANI reported.
Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra: Maratha Reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil says, "Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has done a good job. Our protest is now over. Our request has been accepted. We will accept the letter from him. I will drink juice by the hands of the Chief Minister… pic.twitter.com/TAhS6ZANKj
— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2024
Jarange Patil, who had previously threatened to march to Mumbai if his demands were not satisfied by Saturday am, has paused his protest and tented in Navi Mumbai with thousands of followers. After meeting with authorities to consider Jarange's demands, Chief Minister Shinde sent a delegation late Friday night with a draft ordinance that addressed the activist's concerns.
The delegation included Sumant Bhange, the secretary of the social justice department, Madhukar Arangal, the divisional commissioner of Aurangabad, Amol Shinde, the chief minister's personal secretary, and others.
On Maratha reservation movement, Maharashtra Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said: "A movement which was going on in Maharashtra for Maratha reservation under the leadership of Manoj Manoj Jarange Patil, has reached a solution today. The ordinance that was passed today has the solution to all the problems. Manoj Jarange Patil has announced that since the solution has been received, there is no need to continue the protests. CM Eknath Shinde will end Manoj Jarange Patil's fast with juice. The movement has reached a solution."
#WATCH | Navi Mumbai: On Maratha reservation movement, Maharashtra Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha says, "A movement which was going on in Maharashtra for Maratha reservation under the leadership of Manoj Manoj Jarange Patil, has reached a solution today... The ordinance that was… pic.twitter.com/x0H1cGRlUd
— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2024
The Maratha community, which seeks quota in education and employment under the OBC category, has been a focus of negotiations between community leaders and state officials. Patil, who launched a new hunger strike in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, on Friday, had set forth specific demands, including Kunbi certificates for all Marathas, free education from kindergarten to postgraduate level, and reservation of seats for Marathas in government employment recruitments.
#WATCH | Navi Mumbai: Maratha reservation activists celebrate after Manoj Jarange Patil announces to end the protests today as the government has accepted their demands pic.twitter.com/V1KxosEHRm
— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2024
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar showed his support for quota for the Maratha community and stated that CM Shinde was actively involved in addressing the matter via conversation.
Despite calling off the demonstration, Patil stated that "we have not abandoned our plans to march to Azad Maidan (in Mumbai)."
He stated: “We will go there to celebrate if the government issues all orders pertaining to our demands. If not, we will hold an indefinite hunger strike from tomorrow.”
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