Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar has ordered an SIT probe over Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange's recent statement against Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis. The probe was ordered on the demand of BJP MLA Ashish Shelar who raised the issue in the lower house.
Jarange came down heavily on the state government over the ongoing Maharashtra quota stir and 'blood relatives' of Kunbi Marathas.
The Maratha activist also alleged that Fadnavis was trying to kill him adding that he would march to Mumbai and protest outside the Deputy CM's residence. Jarange also claimed that an attempt to poison him through saline was also made but he did not provide any further details about it.
While speaking in Antarwali-Saraati village, he stated: “The government is going all-out to defame me. It wants me to die through a hunger strike. It is conspiring to eliminate me by poisoning me with saline. And that is why I have stopped taking IV fluids. Fadnavis is dreaming of eliminating me through an encounter." PTI reported.
Shelar stated that provocative language that incites violence has no place in a democracy. He further demanded to know who the person behind Jarange's actions was. Shelar alleged that there was a consipracy to unsettle Maharashtra and malign the Maratha community, PTI reported.
Fadnavis however said that he has no complaints against Jarange. "Jarange may have made wild allegations against me, but the entire Maratha community supports me," he said.
The Deputy CM added: "Will find out who is the mastermind. Burning down of MLAs' homes is also not right. A probe will enable to find out who are the real culprits."
CM Eknath Shinde remarked that Jarange should not test the patience of the Maharashtra government.
Jarange responded to CM Shinde's comments stating: "I have not heard it. But he should tell why the notification for quota of relatives (of Marathas) was not implemented. I respected him a lot. He should not listen to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and speak his (Fadnavis') language."
"It was his (Shinde's) responsibility to implement the notification for the relatives (of Marathas) and consider taking the gazette (of Nizam state, Satara) as proof for issuing certificates of Kunbi caste. The distribution of certificates has been stopped. Which demand was extra from our side?" he asked.
On Tuesday, the Maharashtra Police also registered a case against Jarange under IPC sections 341,143,145,149, and 188. The police accused the Maratha activist of allegedly instigating common people to block a road in Beed which caused massive traffic snarls, causing inconvenience to the people in the surrounding areas.
The police also registered cases in 25 other places in Beed: Nandakumar over the issue of traffic jams.
The Maharashtra legislature, on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill provding 10 per cent reservation for the Marathas in education and government jobs under separate category. However, Jarange has been demanding for a quota under the OBC head and drafting notification on 'blood relatives' of Kunbi Marathas be converted into a law.