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Journalism of Courage
The tussle between Maratha groups led by Manoj Jarange-Patil and the Mahayuti-led Maharashtra government is set to intensify as the Maratha leader said on Thursday the state government was making a mockery of the community by allowing only a day’s protest at Azad Maidan in Mumbai in support of their demand for reservation.
On way to Mumbai, Jarange-Patil, accompanied by his supporters, on Thursday visited the birthplace of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Shivneri in Pune district and pledged to get reservation for the Maratha community in education and jobs.
The Maratha leader had announced an indefinite hungerstrike at Azad Maidan from Friday but the Bombay High Court refused to allow it citing the festive season. The state government later allowed Jarange-Patil to hold a protest for one day at Azad Maidan on condition that the protesters will ensure law and order is maintained.
On way to Mumbai via Shivneri, Jarange-Patil said, “The state government has powers to give permission for the agitation but it gave only a day’s permission. This is fooling the Maratha community. The community should now learn from this.”
Though he has accepted the conditions laid down by the police to hold the agitation at Azad Maidan he expressed displeasure over it.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde worked to meet the demands of the Maratha community without disturbing the reservation for other communities, which no other government in the past had done. “Everyone has the right to protest in a democracy,” he said, adding that the state government will resolve issues of Maratha and OBC communities.
