Activist Manoj Jarange on Wednesday implied that the Maharashtra government might be supporting certain agitations to avoid addressing the demand for a Maratha quota under the OBC category. Jarange stated he would consider fielding candidates in all 288 state assembly seats if the reservation issue remained unresolved, news agency PTI reported.
Jarange's remarks came after two OBC activists began an indefinite fast, seeking assurance from the government that the existing OBC quota would not be affected by the Maratha reservation demand.
"They orchestrate and support agitations. There is a possibility that the government is powering these agitations so that our demands (on Maratha quota under OBC category) remain unfulfilled," Jarange was quoted as saying by PTI.
He was speaking to reporters at a private hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city, where he was receiving treatment after suspending his own indefinite fast on the quota issue on June 13.
OBC community members Laxman Hake and Navnath Waghmare have been on an indefinite hunger strike at Wadigodri village in Jalna district since June 13 to safeguard the OBC reservation.
"We won't say anything about their (OBC) agitation. They have a right to do their agitation. I have nothing to do with those who go and meet them. There is a possibility the government is backing such agitations so that they keep dragging their feet on our demands. How this (OBC protest) has happened all of a sudden?" Jarange questioned.
The activist, who has undertaken multiple fasts in the past year, criticised the state government for neglecting the Maratha community.
"The government does not care for us. We have agitated for up to 17 days. The government does not seem to understand that if it keeps the (Maratha quota) issue unresolved, it will only create problems for them," he emphasised, as reported by PTI.
Jarange warned that the Maratha community might be forced to contest assembly elections in partnership with other social groups if their demands were not met.
"Politics is not our way. But if our demands are not fulfilled, we will be left with no other option except contesting elections. We will contest elections on 288 assembly seats. Meetings are going on for the same. We have examined some constituencies in Western Maharashtra, Marathwada, North Maharashtra, Mumbai, Vidarbha. We will do this (fight polls) with the help of all communities," he asserted.
Jarange announced plans to tour different districts in the Marathwada region in July and hold events to unite the Maratha community and gather support for his demands.
The 41-year-old activist has been advocating for the implementation of the draft notification that recognises Kunbis as “sage soyare” (blood relatives) of Maratha community members. He has also been seeking a law to identify Kunbis as Marathas.
Kunbi, an agrarian group, falls under the OBC category, and Jarange has been demanding that Kunbi certificates be issued to all Marathas, making them eligible for quotas in government jobs and education.
In February, the state assembly unanimously passed a bill granting a separate 10 per cent reservation in education and jobs to the Maratha community. However, the community has continued to demand a quota under the OBC grouping.