SOURCES in the BJP have started raising questions about Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil's focused attack on Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, imputing a political angle to it. In comparison, Jarange-Patil has been quiet about Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, both incidentally Marathas. The activist has sought Fadnavis's resignation as Home Minister over the violence during the Maratha reservation protests, has alleged that it is staged, and has tried to pin the BJP leader down on a video where he says that he is a soft target because “I am a Brahmin”. After the government vowed action against those behind the violence, Jarange-Patil said: "Fadnavis has a habit of creating mischief. making one community fight another. Do you think we will be intimidated? It is because of leaders like him that the BJP has seen a setback in other states, and will see one in Maharashtra too." This is in line with what the NCP has been demanding, with its working president Supriya Sule saying, "The spate of violence is the failure of the Home Minister. He has to own moral responsibility and resign. Innocent activists were lathicharged (talking about the police crackdown during Jarange-Patil's first hunger fast), houses of MLAs are being burnt. Where is the law and order?” Cautioning Jarange-Patil “not to bring in politics”, BJP leader Ajit Chavan, a Maratha, said, "The uniqueness of the Maratha reservation movement was that it was mass-driven. But when you target a specific leader and party, it is bound to raise question marks. It is our ardent appeal to Jarange Patil not to become a puppet in the hands of political masters who want to exploit the movement to their advantage." Fadnavis himself indicated Tuesday that he was digging his heels in, by ordering attempt to murder charges against anybody taking law in their own hands. On Wednesday, in a boost for him, the all-party meeting called by the Maharashtra government expressed its disapproval over the violence by protesters, and urged Jarange-Patil to end his fast. They also urged Maratha activists to cooperate with the government in finding a lasting solution to the reservation issue that would withstand constitutional and legal test. A party functionary said that Fadnavis's contribution to the Maratha quota was undeniable. "First time in the history of the state, a Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission was constituted, under him. As per the panel's recommendations, the Marathas were given 12% and 13% reservation in jobs and education, respectively.” BJP vice-president Prasad Lad said, "Fadnavis is the only CM who gave reservation to Marathas. Why is Jarange-Patil attacking Fadnavis then? At whose behest is he doing this? It is a clear case of political vendetta." While the then BJP-Shiv Sena had cleared Maratha quota in 2018, the Supreme Court had ruled against it, citing that the government had provided no valid grounds to surpass the 50% reservation agitation. Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said, "Fadnavis remains the unchallenged leader of the party. Thousands and lakhs of karyakartas are inspired by his unwavering commitment and credibility." BJP MLA Nitish Rane said, "It is crystal clear that Jarange-Patil's script writer is someone else. Otherwise, why would he deviate from reservation agenda to politics?” Sources said the BJP has chalked out plans to highlight the milestones of the 2014 to 2019 Fadnavis-led government, as well as of his stint as Deputy CM beginning last year, once the reservation agitation dies down. A Maratha Kranti Morcha coordinator from Marathwada region, however, said that while Fadnavis was right in saying that violence could not be justified, “the government should display the same seriousness and sensitivity”. “Otherwise youths who are the main force of the movement are bound to lose patience.”
