Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange said on Thursday that he and his supporters will reach Mumbai after passing through Ahmednagar, Pune, and Panvel in Raigad district near the metropolis.
Jarange, who undertook indefinite fasts in August-September and October-November, had given a deadline of December 24 to the Maharashtra government to give quota to their community.
Later, he said he would lead an “indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan” in south Mumbai.
“The march will start from Antarwali Sarati in Jalna on January 20 and will pass through villages like Padalshingi, and Madalmoi and enter Nagpur from Matori. It will pass through Pathardi, Karanji Ghat, and Nagar and enter Pune district from Supa. It will proceed to Wagholi, Kharadi, Chandannagar and move towards Mumbai via Lonavala, Khandala, and Panvel,” he said to reporters in a press conference.
“Later, it will go to Azad Maidan from Vashi through Chembur. The vehicles that are coming with each unit (of marchers) should be equipped with necessities like food and shelter. There should be two volunteers from the vehicle that will look after the needs of the team walking towards Mumbai,” he added.
Jarange emphasized that the march had to be peaceful and that anyone attempting to ruin the environment will be turned over to the police.
Jarange urged Mumbai residents to support there cause especially those who came from outside to participate in the quota movement and encouraged them to join in big numbers.
MARATHA QUOTA RESERVATION
Maharashtra is witnessing fresh agitation by the Maratha community demanding reservation. During the protests, the homes of two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs- Sandeep Kshirsagar and Prakash Solanke and former minister Jay Kshirsagar were set on fire.
While the Marathas in the past have demanded reservation for the community in government jobs and education, Jarange is demanding Kumbi caste certificates for Marathas so that they can be included into the OBC groups.
The Maharashtra government, in order to pacify the Maratha community, announced it would provide Kunbi caste certificates to all Marathas from Marathwada who possess Nizam-era documents, which recognised them as Kunbis.
The Maharashtra Revenue Department has begun issuing Kunbi certificates to the Maratha community members with valid documents from today (October 31).
The other OBC groups have opposed the inclusion of Marathas in the OBC category for reservation benefits.
While the Marathas make up 32% of the state’s population, OBCs comprise 52% and are fragmented into 382 castes in the state.
(with PTI inputs)
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