Maratha quota stir: Manoj Jarange Patil launches fresh campaign, over 1,500 cops deployed at venue

Manoj Jarange Patil

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil  is all set to launch an agitation to press for reservation to the Maratha community in Mumbai's Azad Maidan.

Jarange, who began his march from Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district on Wednesday, was accompanied by hundreds of vehicles. He was greeted by supporters at Vashi as he entered the city. Thousands of his followers have already arrived in Mumbai to join the demonstration.

Over 1,500 police personnel have been deployed at the protest site, while security has been strengthened at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus where supporters have been arriving from across Maharashtra.

Patil, who made headlines during the Lok Sabha elections but was missing during the assembly polls, is once again appealing to the Maratha community to back him, saying he won’t return to his village, Antarwali Sarati, until his demand is met.

Jarange reasons that a separate quota for Marathas won’t stand in a court of law. Hence, it doesn’t make sense to give quota, especially for Marathas. Instead, he contends if Kunbi certificates are given, Marathas can get quota under OBCs.

Jarange-Patil’s anger is directed not at the entire Mahayuti government but specifically at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, a Brahmin leader, which has not gone down well with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Earlier, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ aide on Tuesday met with Patil in Jalna to urge him to postpone his protest in Mumbai in light of the Ganpati.

Jarange Patil, known for his advocacy on Marathi reservation issues, has urged supporters to rally peacefully and called on authorities to address community concerns regarding reservation policies.

Patil held multiple protest rallies and hunger strikes demanding reservation for the Maratha community ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly Elections in 2024. He had begun his hunger strikes in the Marathwada region, and the movement was later extended to cities including Pune and Mumbai.