Maratha Agitation Intensifies in Mumbai: Jarange Patil Continues Hunger Strike
Mumbai: Manoj Jarange Patil continued his fast for the second day in Mumbai on Saturday, even as the Maharashtra government sent a delegation led by retired high court judge Sandeep Shinde to talk to the Maratha leader who is leading the agitation demanding reservation benefits for his community.
The Devendra Fadnavis government dispatched the delegation in a bid to resolve the issue on a day when Union Home Minister Amit Shah was in Mumbai to visit the Ganpati pandal at Lalbaug. Justice Sandeep Shinde heads a committee formed in 2023 by the then Eknath Shinde government to decide the methodology for issuing 'kunbi' caste certificates to the Maratha community. 'Kunbi' is an Other Backward Class (OBC) community.
While the specifics of what was discussed between Shinde and Shah were not disclosed, the meeting's timing amidst the Maratha agitation is significant. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut of the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray Sena claimed that Eknath Shinde was 'helping the protestors to put Fadnavis in trouble'.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray also criticized Shinde, stating, 'Ask Eknath Shinde why the Maratha protestors have come back to protest. He is the best person to answer.'
The ongoing agitation has brought the Maratha community's long-standing demand for reservation benefits to the forefront. The community, which forms a significant portion of Maharashtra's population, has been pushing for reservations in government jobs and educational institutions to address historical injustices and socio-economic disparities. The government's response to these demands has been met with mixed reactions, with some political leaders supporting the protestors and others urging for a more measured approach.
The delegation's efforts to negotiate with Jarange Patil and the protestors are crucial in finding a peaceful resolution to the agitation. The situation in Mumbai remains tense, with the city's administration and law enforcement agencies on high alert to ensure public safety and order. The outcome of these negotiations could have far-reaching implications for the state's political landscape and the broader issue of caste-based reservations in India.
The Maratha community's struggle for reservation benefits is not new. For years, they have been demanding their rightful place in the reservation system, arguing that their socio-economic conditions warrant such measures. The current agitation is a culmination of these long-standing grievances and the community's determination to see their demands met.
As the hunger strike continues and negotiations are underway, the eyes of the nation are on Mumbai. The Maratha agitation has once again brought to the fore the complex and often contentious issue of caste-based reservations in India. The resolution of this issue will be closely watched by policymakers, civil society, and the general public alike.
