Members of the Maratha community in Pune, Maharashtra, are engaged in a series of protests and a candle march to advocate for their reservation rights. The protests are in solidarity with quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who is on a hunger strike to intensify the agitation over the Maratha reservation issue.
The chain of protests began with a candle march, commencing from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Statue in Shivajinagar and concluding at the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Statue in Deccan. This demonstration aims to draw attention to the long-standing demand for Maratha reservation in education and government jobs.
As part of their protest efforts, members of the Maratha community temporarily blocked the Pune-Nashik highway near Chakan, causing disruptions to vehicular traffic. However, local law enforcement later cleared the road.
The issue of Maratha reservation has been a significant and contentious one in Maharashtra politics. It gained prominence during activist Manoj Jarange Patil’s hunger strike protest in September, where supporters of Jarange faced a police baton charge in Jalna district.
In response to the ongoing agitation, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed his understanding of the pain and sorrow experienced by the Maratha community. He mentioned that a curative petition has been filed in the Supreme Court after the court’s previous decision to strike down the Maratha quota. This development offers a glimmer of hope for the community’s quest for reservation rights.
The state government has taken steps to address the concerns of the Maratha community. A government resolution was issued offering certificates to Marathas in Marathwada with historical records dating back to the Nizam era. However, Jarange Patil has remained steadfast in his hunger strike until all Marathas are granted Kunbi certificates by the Maharashtra government.
The Maratha reservation issue has been marred by tragedy, as activist Sunil Kawale was found dead, hanging from a lamp post in Mumbai’s Bandra area on October 19. In a suicide note, he had expressed his desire for quota rights for the Maratha community.
The state government has made efforts to communicate its initiatives for the Maratha community through newspaper advertisements. These initiatives include provisions for employment and educational admissions under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservation.
As the Maratha’s community continues its protests and advocacy for reservation rights, the issue remains a focal point of concern and debate in Maharashtra’s political landscape.
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