Issue Maratha quota order by today or protests will intensify, hunger striker warns
Manoj Jarange-Patil says the protesters are open to a dialogue with the Maharashtra government provided the official delegation comes with a copy of a resolution or ordinance on the reservation.
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Hundreds of protesters, led by one Manoj Jarange, a local Maratha leader, had been sitting on a hunger strike at Antarwali Sarathi village demanding reservation for the Maratha community in education and government jobs. (ANI Photo) Manoj Jarange-Patil, who has been on a hunger strike in Antarwali Sarathe village of Maharashtra’s Jalna district since August 29 demanding reservation for Marathas, has warned of escalating the protest if a government resolution on the quota is not issued by Tuesday.
A delegation led by minister Girish Mahajan is headed to the protest site in an attempt to persuade Patil to withdraw the hunger strike and the protest. Patil said the protesters were open to the dialogue, but the government delegation should come with a copy of a resolution or ordinance on the reservation.
“We have already given a two-day ultimatum to the government. Of which, one day is left now. If the government doesn’t take positive decisions on the reservation and issue the GR by tomorrow, we will announce our further course of action on Wednesday,” Patil said Monday, adding that he would also stop his water intake.
Amid protests across the state, the government has called a meeting of a cabinet subcommittee on the Maratha quota and a special advisory committee formed to help the cabinet to push the quota in the ongoing case in the Supreme Court.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde spoke to Patil on the phone and assured him that the government was positive about the reservation and would announce its decision after the subcommittee meeting.
“We will wait for sometime before speaking officially on the issue. We are open to a discussion with the government. There is no problem in having talks. But there must be some concrete decision. When the government delegation comes, I hope that they will bring an ordinance or government resolution on the reservation. We are eagerly waiting for that GR on reservation. But if GR doesn’t come today, then the protest would continue,” Patil said after the government held a press conference on the issue. “The government should withdraw the FIRs registered against the protesters.”
Earlier on the day, Shiv Sena leader Arjun Khotkar met Patil to convey a message from Shinde and to persuade him to withdraw the hunger strike. Khotkar told Patil there were some legalities that needed to be taken care of and that the government needed a month to address the issue.
On Sunday night, minister Girish Mahajan met Patil and asked for one month’s time.
Patil, however, was firm on his demand that the government should within two days issue an ordinance giving reservation to the Maratha community. He said he will call off the strike as soon as the ordinance comes.
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