Mumbai: Duo Suspected Of Attack On Maratha Activist Jarange Critic Baraskar Detained

The duo reportedly sought clarification from activist Ajay Maharaj Baraskar who recently criticised the Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange for lacking transparency.

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde accepted Manoj Jarange's Maratha reservation demands on January 27. ( Image Source :PTI )

Two supporters of the Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange were apprehended by Mumbai police on Friday outside a hotel located in Mumbai's Churchgate area. The detention occurred as the duo was found close to the hotel where Baraskar was also supposed to be present. 

According to the Marine Drive police station official, the supporters intended to seek clarification from activist Ajay Maharaj Baraskar, regarding his derogatory remarks against Jarange, the PTI reported.

Jarange was scheduled to address the media at the Press Club but the event was cancelled. At 6:45 pm a group of Maratha quota supporters had assembled outside the hotel where Baraskar was supposed to be present, reported PTI.

The police official stated that the detained duo were supporters of Jarange and were being questioned after their detention. However, no case has been registered against them, he added.

Baraskar, who was formerly aligned with the campaign, had recently openly criticised Jarange for lack of transparency over his recent "closed-door meetings." with ministers.

"While he used to meet officials and ministers in the presence of his supporters and media persons, he had also held closed-door meetings and what happened in those meetings, no one knows the details," Baraskar said. 

He also accused him of having one of the meetings with an official in a hotel. "I am witness to some of these meetings," Baraskar claimed.

Jarange sat on a hunger strike on February 10 demanding the issuance of Kunbi certificates to Marathas and convening of a special session to address the issue. The Maharashtra legislative assembly unanimously passed it providing 10 percent reservation for the Maratha community in government jobs and education.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde presented the Maharashtra State Socially and Educationally Backward Bill 2024, which also suggested that a review of the reservation will be conducted after 10 years once the bill comes into effect. 

Recently, the government released a preliminary notification stating that if a Maratha individual can provide documentation proving their affiliation with the agrarian Kunbi community, their 'sage soyare' or blood relatives would also qualify for Kunbi caste certificates. The Kunbi community falls within the classification of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and Jarange has been campaigning for all Marathas to be issued Kunbi certificates.

Manoj Jarange Patil has been leading the Maratha quota agitation from his hometown situated in Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna. He joined the movement for the Maratha community reservations in government jobs and education for the past 15 years. Since then, he has participated in several marches and protests and even sold off 2.5 acres of his four acres of agricultural land to meet his daily needs. Initially, he was associated with the Congress party but then he went on to found an outfit called the Shivba Sanghatana to fight for the Maratha reservation. He came into the spotlight during a hunger strike in September last year at the Ataravali-Sarate village.