In a recent development, activist Manoj Jarange has issued a stern ultimatum to the Maharashtra government, vowing to go on a water fast if the long-standing demand for reservation for the Maratha community is not met. Jarange has urged leaders of all political parties in Mumbai to press the state government to convene a special session of the state assembly and officially declare Maratha reservation. He has declared that if this action is not taken, he will commence his water fast from Wednesday evening, emphasizing that the protest will persist peacefully.
Jarange criticized political leaders for their rhetoric on the issue, claiming that they speak amicably to the protestors while simultaneously pursuing legal actions against them. He attributed this to the decline of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state.
Responding to the escalating tensions, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has summoned an all-party meeting in Mumbai to discuss the situation in the state, particularly in light of the intensifying Maratha quota agitation, which has turned violent in certain regions.
Notable attendees at the meeting, hosted at the Sahyadri Guest House, include State Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar, former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, and several ministers such as Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Chandrakantdada Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Valse Patil, Girish Mahajan, and Dadaji Bhuse.
The Chief Minister’s Office has stated that Chief Minister Shinde intends to outline the government’s strategies for handling the situation and seek the support of opposition leaders during the meeting. The ongoing Maratha reservation issue continues to be a point of contention, with activists like Manoj Jarange resorting to extreme measures to push for their demands.
