Mumbai, Nov 3 – Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed gratitude on Thursday night to Manoj Jarange-Patil for calling off his hunger strike, which he initiated to demand reservation for the Maratha community by placing them under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.
Speaking at a press conference after Jarange-Patil withdrew his fast, Chief Minister Shinde acknowledged the activist’s commitment and gave assurances regarding the government’s stance on Maratha reservation.
Jarange-Patil, who set a two-month deadline for the government to implement reservation for the entire Maratha community, received reassurance from the Chief Minister. Shinde pledged that the government would take serious steps to provide reservation to the Maratha community within the legal framework.
“Keeping in mind the upcoming Diwali and the examination of the students, I appeal to all the protestors to call off their protests now,” said Shinde, urging a pause in demonstrations.
Shinde informed that instructions would be issued to all Collectors and the administration to expedite the process of issuing certificates to the Maratha community by checking the Kunbi records across the state in the next two months. Special teams of officers and employees would be formed for this purpose.
“I had spoken to Jarange the day before yesterday. I told him that the government is committed to providing lasting reservation within the framework of the law. We have started issuing certificates immediately by checking Kunbi records where they are found. It is a big deal that 13,514 records have been found to date,” said Chief Minister Shinde.
Shinde also announced the empowerment of the Shinde Committee and the provision of adequate manpower to ensure the speedy implementation of issuing Kunbi certificates. He emphasized the government’s commitment to fairness and justice for the Maratha community and other communities, stating, “Injustice will not be allowed to happen to other communities as well.”
As the government moves forward with the reservation process, the assurance from Chief Minister Shinde marks a significant development in addressing the demands of the Maratha community and fostering inclusivity within the legal framework.
