After agreeing to his demands, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil met with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday in Navi Mumbai. After the Maharashtra government replied to the demands with a draft ordinance pertaining to reservation in jobs and education for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Jarange Patil cancelled his protest. To put a stop to the activist’s unending hunger strike, Shinde offered him juice.
After threatening to march towards Mumbai on Saturday am if his demands were not met, Jarange Patil withdrew his protest and set up camp in Navi Mumbai surrounded by thousands of followers. Following discussions with officials to consider Jarange’s demands, Chief Minister Shinde sent a delegation late on Friday night bearing a draft ordinance that addressed the activist’s concerns.
Amol Shinde, the personal secretary of the chief minister, Madhukar Arangal, the divisional commissioner of Aurangabad, and Secretary of the Department of Social Justice Sumant Bhange were among the delegation members.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has done a terrific job, Jarange Patil stated, expressing his pleasure with the government’s response. We have concluded our demonstration. Our request has been granted. We shall acknowledge receipt of his letter. Tomorrow (Saturday), I will sip juice from the chief minister’s hand.
The Maratha community has been a main topic of dispute between the state administration and community leaders since they are seeking reservations in jobs and education under the OBC category. In addition to a list of demands that included free education for all Marathas from kindergarten to postgraduate studies and the reservation of seats for Marathas in government employment recruitments, Patil launched a new hunger strike on Friday in Vashi, Navi Mumbai.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar emphasised that Chief Minister Shinde was actively involved in addressing the matter through negotiation and stated that he supported reservations for the Maratha people.
Patil stated, “We have not shunned our plans to march to Azad Maidan (in Mumbai)” despite the protest being called off.
“If the government issues all the orders related to our requests, we will go there to celebrate. If not, tomorrow we will begin an indefinite hunger strike.
A possible solution to the long-standing problem of reservation for the Maratha population in the state is indicated by the Maharashtra government’s draft legislation, which responds to several important requests of the group.
