The Maharashtra government has urged Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil to reconsider bringing his protest to Mumbai during Ganeshotsav, saying 12 of the community’s 13 demands have been accepted and that a city protest could inconvenience residents and devotees and create a law-and-order challenge.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made the appeal after a discussion in the state Cabinet on whether Jarange should be asked not to proceed to Mumbai during the festival period. He said the government had accepted most of the demands and that the remaining issues could cause difficulties if they became subject to court proceedings, according to a report by Loksatta – Mumbai.
Fadnavis appealed to Jarange to show restraint during the festive season and avoid an agitation that could inconvenience the public. He said the police were responsible for maintaining law and order and that Jarange’s earlier application for the protest had been rejected. Jarange has submitted another application, on which the police will take a decision.
The Maratha protest movement is heading towards Mumbai with the stated intention of pressing for reservation-related demands. Fadnavis said Jarange could continue to hold protests, as he had done previously, but asked him to avoid doing so during the period when Mumbai and Pune host large-scale public Ganeshotsav celebrations.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also asked Jarange to reconsider the decision to come to Mumbai. Shinde said the priority during Ganeshotsav should be to prevent inconvenience to citizens and devotees and to avoid a situation that could affect law and order. He appealed to Jarange to adopt a position focused on the community’s demands rather than what Shinde described as a political stance.
Shinde said the state had taken several measures relating to the Maratha community. These included a 10 per cent reservation enacted through a special session of the legislature, the resolution of 5,300 pending appointments, and an increase in the loan limit under the Annasaheb Patil Economic Development Corporation from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh.
He also said that the process of issuing certificates to people with Kunbi records had begun through the Shinde committee. The process is connected to the government’s stated effort to address claims based on historical Kunbi records while ensuring, according to Shinde, that no other community, particularly the Other Backward Classes, is disadvantaged.
Fadnavis separately said that a special investigation team had been formed to examine complaints relating to the Maharashtra Health and Technical Common Entrance Test. He said the complaints would be investigated and that a forensic audit would also be conducted. Criminal action would follow if wrongdoing was found, he said.
The immediate administrative question is whether the police will permit the proposed Mumbai protest after considering Jarange’s fresh application. The government’s appeal is also framed around the management of public movement and gatherings during Ganeshotsav, when Mumbai’s roads, public spaces and police resources face increased demand. The police decision on the application will determine the next formal step for the proposed agitation.
