Govt decides to counter Jarange-Patil ’s demands

Caught between the two communities – Marathas and Other Backward Classes (OBC) – over the quota issue, the government maintained that the reservation to the Marathas would be given without touching any existing quota. The ruling alliance also fielded its Maratha leaders to counter Jarange-Patil

Mumbai: As the deadline set by Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil for the Maratha reservation ends on Tuesday, the state government has decided not to bow before any ‘pressure tactics’ and has reportedly decided to counter the attack from the Maratha community outfits by fielding leaders from the same community.

Navi Mumbai, India - Oct. 19, 2023:Maratha community activist Manoj Jarange-Patil visit at Shivaji Maharaj Chowk Vashi, in Navi Mumbai, India, on Thursday, October 19, 2023. (Photo by Bachchan Kumar/ HT PHOTO) (HT PHOTO)

The government also clarified that the community would not get any pie from the existing reservation given to respective communities.

The government has decided to give an extension of two months to a committee appointed under retired judge Sandeep Shinde on the issue making it clear that there was no possibility of any decision of issuing Kunbi certificates to Maratha community members anytime soon. Caught between the two communities – Marathas and Other Backward Classes (OBC) – over the quota issue, the government maintained that the reservation to the Marathas would be given without touching any existing quota. The ruling alliance also fielded its Maratha leaders to counter Jarange-Patil.

Jarange Patil, the new face of the Maratha reservation movement, on Sunday announced to resume his hunger strike from October 25 on completion of the 40-day ultimatum. “I would not drink water, eat food or take any medical support during this time,” he said, declaring that politicians, especially the elected ones, would not be allowed to enter villages across the state until the issue of reservation was resolved.

On the other hand, existing communities in the OBC category also threatened to protest if the government accepted Jarange-Patil’s demand.

Against the backdrop of the tussle between the two communities and sensing the trouble in the ensuing elections, the alliance government has reportedly decided to counter the attack from the Maratha community outfits. It has begun fielding its Maratha leaders for the same. The lead was taken by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who was a silent spectator during Jarange Patil’s 17-day hunger strike in August and September. He said on Monday that he was in favour of the caste-based survey, something that is being demanded by OBC outfits, saying that their percentage of the population is now more than Marathas.

“Let the survey take place in Maharashtra too, as it will ascertain the percentage of each community. It would help us in making the budgetary provision for the community in proportion to their population. We have asked for the report of the survey from Bihar so that it would help us in conducting scientific surveys here. It would not be a few thousand crores, but we are ready for it. We also have the figures of the reservation reaped by Marathas in 10% reservation meant for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS),” Pawar said at a rally in Madha, Solapur.

He added that the reservation in the state has reached 62% and the government is firm on giving Marathas the reservation from the remaining 38%. “Constitutional experts are working on it. The existing reservation would not be touched. We do not want to disturb the sentiments of the OBCs. At the same time, the reservation that is to be given to the Marathas should withstand legal scrutiny,” he said.

Another deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis also backed Pawar on caste caste-based survey and said that the government was not in favour of taking a decision in haste that would nail the reservation given. “The reservation of the Marathas is a complicated issue that would face legal and constitutional scrutiny. We are committed to accord the reservation to Marathas that would stand the legal scrutiny, otherwise, we may face the criticism for fooling people,” Fadnavis said, adding that the government is not against the caste-based survey, but it wants the survey to be scientific.

Meanwhile, the state government is unlikely to engage in dialogue with Jarange-Patil and others who have announced plans to resume the protest. “There is hardly anything that can be done by the state government for the restoration of the reservation. The state government had assured Jarange-Patil with the report of the Shinde committee that would decide the modalities to issue Kunbi certificates to Marathas from central Maharashtra. It was never about any new law or inclusion of Marathas in the OBC category. We have decided to face it if the activist tries to build up pressure,” a senior minister from the government said.

The state government is, however, under tremendous pressure in the wake of the response Jarange-Patil is getting from the Maratha community and the suicides by youth from the community. Another leader from the Shinde faction said that the ruling parties have decided to go to the community convincing them about the sincere efforts they are making for the restoration of the quota. “The stand taken by Pawar or Fadnavis is part of it. The advertisement issued by the government with the figures of the percentage of the benefits Marathas have received in the EWS quota in the last four years proved counterproductive. It had a backlash, but the ruling parties have decided to not bow before the pressure,” he added.

As part of the strategy by the government, Maratha leaders from the alliance have started speaking against Jarange-Patil’s demand. BJP leader and union minister Narayan Rane and senior leader from the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena Ramdas Kadam have said that ‘real’ Marathas are not in favour of their inclusion as kunbis. “96 kuli’ Marathas are not in favour of their inclusion in the OBC category,” Rane said on Thursday in Mumbai.

The state government, meanwhile, has decided to give an extension to the Shinde committee by two months. “The committee is of the opinion that the modalities finalised for the issuance of the certificates should be full proof and stand the legal scrutiny. It has already visited five districts and three will be visited this week. It has collated and studied 14 million documents from which 5000 have the records of Kunbi. A team of officers would be soon sent to Telangana to study the Nizam era documents related to Kunbi records. After the scrutiny of the documents, the committee would need time for the drafting and even two months are insufficient,” said an official from the revenue department.