Jarange begins indefinite hunger strike in Mumbai

 

 

 

MARATHA quota movement leader Manoj Jarange began his indefinite hunger strike at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai on Friday, vowing not to leave till the community’s demands were met. The Government said it was ready to talk with him over his demands, while many MPs and MLAs from the State’s Marathwada region visited Jarange at the protest venue. The 43-year-old activist received a rousing welcome from thousands of supporters, sporting saffron caps, scarves and flags, after he reached the protest venue around 9.45 am. “I will not go back until our demands are met. Even if I am shot dead, I will not retreat,” said Jarange in his address to his supporters. Police on Friday allowed activist Manoj Jarange to continue his hunger strike for Maratha reservation at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai for another day, an official said. The activist, who started the indefinite fast on Friday morning, was initially given permission to occupy the ground only for a day.

 

As per the Bombay High Court directive, the permission ended at 6 pm, but the organisers had sought an extension, and the Azad Maidan police station allowed their application, the police official said. As thousands of Jarange’s supporters arrived in south Mumbai on Friday, the road traffic in the area was nearly crippled. He said the Government’s “lack of cooperation” had compelled the community to march to Mumbai. “Now that the Government has allowed the protest, we must cooperate with the police and ensure that we do nothing that tarnishes the community’s image,” he said. Jarange, who began his fast at 10 am, repeatedly urged his supporters to protest peacefully and not inconvenience Mumbaikars. He said some people had created disturbances and asked his supporters to find out who they were and which district they had come from.

 

The activist also appealed to his supporters to park their vehicles at designated places and not to block Mumbai’s roads. “Clear the streets in two hours and ensure Mumbaikars are not troubled. Those who want to leave the city today can do so,” he said. Ruing that the police had given him permission for only one day, he said, “We decided to come to Mumbai, and we have come. We hope the Government and the court will allow our protest. We will submit another application.” He also appealed to the Government to give him more days to protest. “We want the Government to grant us reservation and accept all our demands. I want to caution the Chief Minister against inviting the wrath of the Marathas. You can shoot me or put me in jail. I will rot in jail but will not move till our demands are met,” he said. Jarange has been demanding a 10 per cent quota for Marathas under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. He wants all Marathas to be recognised as Kunbis – an agrarian caste included in the OBC category – which will make them eligible for reservation in Government jobs and education.

 

NCP (SP) MP Bajrang Sonawane from Beed, his colleague and Beed MLA Sandeep Kshirsagar, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Jadhav, who represents the Parbhani Lok Sabha seat, and MLAs Prakash Solanke (Majalgaon) and Vijaysinh Pandit (Georai) from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP were among those who met Jarange. Maharashtra Ministers Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the State Government was ready to talk with Manoj Jarange, stressing that his demands are being viewed sympathetically. Vikhe Patil, who is also the chairperson of the Maratha reservation sub-committee, said they have received Jarange’s memorandum of demands and it would be taken up for discussion.

 

The Government has not ignored these demands, he said. Bawankule said the Government has taken many initiatives for the benefit of the community. But OBCs should not face any injustice while giving reservation benefits to Marathas, and vice versa, he said. However, BJP member of legislative council Parinay Fuke cautioned against yielding to what he called “unconstitutional demands”, saying it would trigger bigger protests by the Other Backward Class (OBC) groups. Police also stipulated that only five vehicles of protesters can head to Azad Maidan and the number of protesters there should not cross 5,000. Over 1,500 Mumbai police personnel have been deployed at Azad Maidan to maintain law and order ahead of Jarange’s agitation, officials said. Security has also been beefed up at the CSMT, where quota agitation supporters have arrived from Maharashtra’s hinterlands, the railway police said.