Why Jarange is upset with two Mahayuti ministers and vows to target them

“Nitesh Rane is like a chichondri (a shrew). We cannot trace her feet We don’t understand what she says… We understand what abusive language it uses… Let the agitation get over, I will deal with him,” Jarange-Patil told reporters at the agitation site at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on Sunday.

The activist said he had asked Nitesh Rane’s father and brother, Nilesh, to control Nitesh. “I had told (them) to control him but it seems he won’t listen,” he said.

Nitesh Rane had last week criticised Jarange Patil for allegedly targeting the mother of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. “Those who were Marathas through blood, will never use bad lanaguage against anyone’s mother. We respect Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who never used bad words against any women. Jarange Patil should continue his fight for Maratha reservation but he used bad words for CM’s mother, then we will target his tongue. Jarange-Patil should remember this,” the Minister had said, drawing jeers from the activist’s supporters. Nitesh Rane’s father, former chief minister Narayan Rane said, “I have spoken to Nitesh about the use of wrong words. When I was the CM, I used to tell people not to call me CM but call me ‘sevak.’ I have told Nitesh about this.”

Commenting on the quota activist’s response, Nitesh said, “A few months ago, Jarange Patil had called me, my father and several other MLAs. We discussed reservation… He is now in a mood to protest. We will interact after his agitation is over.”

Targeting another Mahayuti Minister, Jarange Patil said, “When he was the chairman of the sub-committee on Maratha reservation, Chandrakant Patil had stopped giving out caste validity certificates on the instructions of the Chief Minister. Patil should desist himself from facing the wrath of the Maratha community. When Patil had sometime ago done good work, I had not said anything to him… If he continues to speak against reservation, he should remember Kolhapur is not far away for us…Chandrakant Patil has no brains and that is why he was removed from the sub-committee.”

While speaking to reporters in Pandharpur, Patil had termed Jarange-Patil’s agitation as the one which was politically motivated. “The agitation has the objective of getting political reservation… Maratha community will not get reservation through OBC,” he said.

Patil said, “Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has given Marathas reservation through SCBC and EWS categories. But this is not acceptable to Jarange Patil. He is only seeking political reservation. No matter how much he tries to pressure, Maratha community will not get reservation through OBC category.”

Patil said so far 58 lakh Kunbi caste records have been found. “So far 10 lakh Kunbi caste certificates have been distributed. The government has tried to resolve most of the issues raised by Maratha community yet they are agitating,:” he said.

A BJP spokesperson said Mahayuti Ministers should better stay away from the agitation site as the sub-committee members are dealing with the activist. “There are no specific instructions but the ministers should stay away from the Azad Maidan site as the government is already engaged in discussion with the activist,” said BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhaye. BJP sources said both Patil and Nitesh Rane have been told to avoid making any unnecessary comments, thereby not incurring the wrath of Maratha agitators.

Like the ministers, Jarange Patil has been targeting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on every one of the latter’s press interactions. He has been describing the Chief Minister as “arrogant”, who has been working against the interest of the Maratha community. “No one can stop us from getting reservation in OBC category, not even Fadnavis. Fadnavis gets angry when we speak about his mother. Our mothers are also losing children. Does he feel for them? He has got all power in his hands but is trying to create impediments. Even if he shoots us down, we will not leave Mumbai,” the activist told reporters.

BJP leader Chitra Wagh, who was also targeted by Jarange Patil last week, said, “I can say one thing for sure, if there is anyone who can give reservation to Maratha community, it is none other than Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Therefore, the activist should desist from targeting the chief minister.”

NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule, who was mobbed by Maratha supporters on Sunday when she went to meet the activist said, “The Chief Minister has broken parties and families… Now he has power. It is time he takes a decision on reservation. Power is not meant to move around in red-beaconed vehicles and in helicopters. Power is meant to solve problems of aggrieved citizens. The Chief Minister should not blame the Opposition.”

Activist Trupti Desai said, “Jarange’s agitation has been going on peacefully. Marathas are also agitating peacefully. But some people are unnecessarily raising the bogey of arresting him. If anyone dares to arrest Jarange Patil, then they should first arrest us. And if Jarange Patil is arrested, then the government will have to arrest lakhs of people. The government should instead concentrate on giving reservation.”

Meanwhile, Sambhaji Chhatrapati, the descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who met Jarange-Patil on Monday, said, “Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj had first given reservation to the ‘bahujan samaj’ which included Maratha community in 1902. Whatever demands the activist has made should be taken up by the state government and be resolved.”