In the ongoing Maratha reservation movement, activist Manoj Jarange-Patil has intensified his stance against the BJP, specifically targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for allegedly opposing Maratha inclusion in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. Jarange-Patil accuses Fadnavis of manipulating the reservation system by adding other castes to the OBC list and allegedly orchestrating actions that led to the removal of Maratha reservations previously secured by the community. He insists that while not all BJP leaders oppose the Maratha cause, Fadnavis’s policies have particularly harmed their interests.
Jarange-Patil has continued advocating for Maratha rights, pushing for official recognition under the OBC category, leveraging recently discovered government records of over 5.7 million Kunbi caste members to support their claim. He argues that obtaining OBC certificates will streamline the reservation process for Marathas under the existing category, rather than fragmenting or adding new subcategories.
The activist further clarified his strategic decision to withdraw from the assembly election fray, emphasizing that this move was not due to external political pressure but to protect the Maratha community’s pride. He stressed that contesting as a single caste group could alienate allied communities, such as Dalits and Muslims, whom he sees as vital for broader support in the movement. Jarange-Patil’s immediate focus remains on the reservation struggle, distancing himself from active political campaigning until his community’s demands are addressed fully.
This development has placed significant pressure on the Maharashtra government, which recently engaged senior leaders to negotiate and reduce tensions amid Jarange-Patil’s impactful protests and hunger strikes across the state.
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