‘Not one hour more after December 24,’ Jarange-Patil warns Shinde govt. over Maratha quota deadline 

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil refuses to extend December 24 deadline for blanket reservation for Maratha community, warns of next course of action.

A day after the Maharashtra government requested Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil to extend his December 24 ‘deadline’ for granting blanket reservation for the Maratha community, Mr. Jarange-Patil refused to budge, warning the Eknath Shinde government that he would not even grant “an hour” after that date to ensure reservation for the community.

Speaking in Jalna’s Antarwali Sarathi village, where he held a large meeting to decide the next course of action on the quota issue, Mr. Jarange-Patil urged the Maratha community to remain united in the final phase of the quota fight.

“We will not give even one hour to this government after December 24. So, ensure reservation to Marathas by then. If it does not do so, then we will announce the next course of action on December 23,” said the activist, whose two hunger strikes in September and October-November this year had brought the government to its knees.

Mr. Jarange-Patil has since demanded that all Marathas be included in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category by being given Kunbi OBC certificates.

On Saturday, Maharashtra Ministers Girish Mahajan and Sandipan Bhumre had met the activist and conveyed the State government’s sincere commitments about the fulfilment of the promises made to the Maratha community.

Mr. Mahajan had also said that as many as 54 lakh proofs had been found showing Marathas as Kunbi OBCs.

“If 54 lakh proofs have been found, then it is proved that Marathas fall into the OBC category. No one can now stop the Marathas from entering the OBC category,” said Mr. Jarange-Patil.