Maratha Quota activist Manoj Jarange announced on Saturday that he would launch an indefinite fast from July 20 if the government doesn't grant the reservation to the Marathas community by midnight on July 13. He has called on all the Marathas to gather in Mumbai for the next phase of the agitation, which will be declared on July 20.
While addressing the public rally in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, he stated that the protest for the Maratha reservation is scheduled to resume on July 20 at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district. "The one-month deadline for the government to implement the Maratha quota has ended today. Today, I tell the government that nine demands of the Maratha community should be fulfilled. It is just the end of the first phase. More phases of the tour are in the pipeline," he said, as quoted by news agency PTI.
He emphasised that if the government does not provide the reservation by tonight, the agitation will be reignited on July 20, and he will also be joining the protest in Mumbai.
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Jarange has been spearheading the protests demanding OBC certificates to recognise all Kunbis (agriculturists) and their "sage soyre" (blood relatives) as Marathas. The Maharashtra legislature has also passed a bill during the protest for providing 10 per cent reservation for the Maratha community in education and government jobs in February.
He said that he has no choice but to come to Mumbai, even though he is reluctant to do so, adding that the deadline of July 20 is the "last chance" for the government. "We don't want to come to Mumbai and also don't want to defeat their 288 candidates. This is the last chance for the government. I want the power of the state to remain in the hands of the poor Maratha community," he added, as per PTI.
Jarange To Announce Next Moves In Mumbai
Jarange declared he would be revealing the next steps after Saturday. He also warned that Mumbai residents might have to leave the city if Marathas from Marathwada come out. He accused stating that by hosting meetings with people who were not involved in the quota dispute, the state government was trying to mislead the Maratha community.
"If the reservation is not given and Maratha community people move to Mumbai, it will take a 300 km area to accommodate them. On the day I launch indefinite fast, I will declare whether to contest elections or to defeat 288 candidates and the date of going to Mumbai," he added.
Jarange also claimed that a total of 11 MLCs won legislative council elections with the support of Maratha MLAs on Friday. "If Marathas are harassed by newly-elected MLCs, we will not tolerate it," he said, warning OBC leaders who have benefited from Maratha votes not to antagonise the Maratha community.
He indicated that in addition to OBC leader and state minister Chhagan Bhujbal, the fight for reservations now involves Muslims, Rajputs, Lingayats, and Dhangar communities.