Maratha agitation: ‘We are OBCs, no question of crossing 50% limit’, Jarange-Patil tells ministers

“There is no reason for OBCs to get agitated, as Marathas in this region have always been on the OBC list. There is no question of raising the 50% limit, as we are number 83 on the OBC list,” he told the delegation of ministers, led by state’s Rural Development Minister Girish Mahajan. He was joined by other ministers Sandipan Bhumare, Atul Save, Eknath Shinde’s Sena leader and former MLA Arjun Khotkar. Opposition NCP MLA Rajesh Tope was also present in the meeting.

Last week on Friday, the police lathicharge on Maratha protesters led to outrage across the state with Opposition leaders rushing to the protest site in Ambad tehsil of Jalna, accusing the government of using unnecessary force. It prompted CM Eknath Shinde to send the Superintendent of Police on leave while suspending his subordinate officer. Amid demands of resignation, Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis who handles the Home department issued an apology on behalf of the government.

The government held a meeting of the cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation on Monday in the wake of state wide protests. In the meeting, the committee, formed to study the issue of giving Marathas in Marathwada OBC tag, was asked to submit its report in one month. A delegation of ministers visited the protesters to persuade Jarange-Patil to give up on his fast, as the committee report is expected within a month, but he declined. Jarange-Patil said he was ready to give four days to the government to act.

Jarange-Patil maintained that except for Marathas in Marathwada all Marathas, be it from Vidarbha or Konkan or north Maharashtra have been given the OBC status. “There is no need for extra time as everything is crystal clear,” he told the ministers, refusing to end his fast saying he is ready to end his life.

Mahajan said the state government is positive about the demand. “It will take around 15-20 days to find a solution. We are worried about your (Jarange-Patil) health. I want to assure you that even though we have given a month’s time, we want to finish it even more quickly. There are clear instructions to the committee to hold meetings daily and get done with the matter,” he said.

He said the Fadnavis government had given reservation to Marathas despite the demand pending for many years. “We will speak to the CM about your four-day ultimatum, as we are not sure the work will be done in that much time. But we are worried about your health,” Mahajan said.