WALKING the quota tightrope amid contrasting aspirations of Marathas and OBCs, the Maharashtra Government on Sunday indicated its willingness to discuss “legally valid” demands of the Maratha community even as fasting activist Manoj Jarange remained firm on the Kunbi caste certificate. On the second day of his indefinite hunger strike launched from Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, Jarange set a September 12 deadline for the Government to accept his demands and warned of demonstrations by members of the Maratha community in Mumbai. Earlier in the day, Jarange opposed a rally of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, also a Maratha, in Parbhani city, questioning the need for the “political event”. Police detained some individuals, an official said, without elaborating. Reacting cautiously, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the Government is open to discussing constitutionally valid and legally viable demands, and not those violative of the Supreme Court’s orders. Addressing the rally of agriculturists, Shinde said the Mahayuti Government and Jarange are on the same page in supporting farmers, highlighting the state’s commitment to do justice to the community.

 

He rejected allegations that the rally was aimed at political muscle flexing. Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Fadnavis said the Government’s representatives are attending the Parbhani event to discuss the demands of (Maratha) protesters. “Earlier also we found a way to address their issues, and we are going forward to resolve their demands. Similarly, Eknath Shinde is also very sensitive to these issues from the very beginning,” he said. Jarange has claimed that 58 lakh records were found of the Kunbi genealogical link of Marathas and that the government was trying to slash this figure. His principal demand is Kunbi recognition for members of the Maratha community, similar to the benefits enjoyed by OBC groups in education and Government jobs. The other demands include the reservation based on the Satara Gazette, withdrawal of all police cases registered against quota protesters across Maharashtra, and providing government jobs and financial compensation to the families of those who died during the previous agitations. He targeted Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat and local MP Sanjay Jadhav, alleging that genuine caste certificates had been cancelled, causing hardship to members of the Maratha community.