Jarange-Patil threatens another indefinite fast from July 20, Laxman Hake warns of an OBC show of strength

The election for eleven council seats took place on Friday and the results were declared the same evening. All the nine candidates fielded by the ruling Maha Yuti—the BJP’s five and two each of the Shiv Sena and the NCP—won. While the Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) won one seat each, the twelfth candidate, supported by the NCP (SP), lost.

In August 2023, Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil started a fast at Antarwali Sarathi in the Marathwada region. His protest for reservation had elicited huge support, especially from the poor and unemployed in the community. He has made the village his abode for the reservation agitation.

Now the OBCs uniting to celebrate Pankaja Munde’s victory in Jalna is a sign of growing assertion within the community ahead of the Assembly polls.

On Sunday, Jarange-Patil threatened to sit on an indefinite fast from July 20 if a draft notification on extending OBC reservation under the kunbi category to eligible Marathas and their sage soyre (blood relations) is not implemented immediately.

Although the state government has made a commitment to consider the demand subject to scrutiny following suggestions and objections, OBC leaders have warned the Government of serious consequences if Marathas are given OBC reservation.

Laxman Hake, an OBC leader and former member of the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission, told media persons on Sunday, “The OBCs will be forced to show their might.”

“How can the Maharashtra government allow one person (Jarange-Patil) to dictate terms? He makes provocative statements. He often uses abusive language against the CM, ministers and bureaucrats. How can the Government allow this in a progressive state like Maharashtra? Where is the home minister? Why is nobody taking action to rein him (Jarange-Patil)?” Hake said.

Hake said that Maharashtra has always upheld the teachings of Dr B R Ambedkar, Jyotiba Phule and Shahu Maharaj. “When one individual creates anarchy, uses foul language against the CM and ministers, it is an insult to the 12 crore people of Maharashtra. In such a situation, the Government should act. It cannot remain a mute spectator,” he added.

Hake also said it made one wonder as to how the Maratha community tolerated Jarange-Patil’s conduct.

During the-just concluded monsoon session of the legislature, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde convened an all-party meeting to discuss Maratha reservation. The Government then reiterated its commitment to find an amicable solution to the vexed problem. Shinde said the Government had given a 10 per cent quota to Marathas, would ensure it withstands legal and constitutional scrutiny, and was examining the demand regarding kunbi certificates.

OBC leaders believe the ambiguity over the Government’s sage soyre draft notification is leading to confusion. They want the Government to declare that Marathas will not get OBC reservation.

Prakash Shendge, president of the Maharashtra OBC Manch, said, “OBCs have shown a lot of restraint and tolerance. But nobody has the right to take them for granted. Any attempt by Marathas to seek reservation under the OBC quota will be aggressively countered. We will also take to the streets if our sentiments are not respected. We are not against a Maratha quota if it is given separately. We don’t want Maratha reservation included in the OBC category. Our quota should remain intact.”

Jarange-Patil’s agitation dividing Mahayuti

Sources in the Mahayuti have said that Jarange-Patil’s commitment to the Maratha reservation is genuine but not apolitical. “Or else why would he give a call to his followers to defeat candidates who fail to give them reservation?” a source asked.

In the recent Lok Sabha polls, Jarange-Patil’s agitation had an adverse impact on the BJP as the Marathas voted against the party. The BJP could win only nine of the 28 seats it contested.

Many in the BJP argue that while Jarange-Patil has an anti-BJP and anti-Ajit Pawar line, he is soft on the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. His agitation is thus dividing Mahayuti and giving the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi an advantage.

Jarange Patil has often publicly spoken against Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and senior OBC minister Chhagan Bhujbal, leaders of the BJP and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, respectively.

“When we protest, the focus is public welfare. But Jarange-Patil uses unparliamentary words against the chief minister, Fadnavis and Bhujbal. Yet, nobody has acted,” Hake said.