Eknath Shinde released a draft ordinance addressing Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil’s demands

GG News Bureau

New Delhi, 27th Jan.  After the Maha government led by Eknath Shinde released a draft ordinance addressing his demands for the Maratha community, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil decided to end his protest.

With thousands of supporters encircling them, Patil accepted a glass of juice from CM Shinde to end his extended hunger strike.

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Although Patil had earlier declared that he would visit Mumbai, on Friday night he and a large group of his supporters set up camp outside Navi Mumbai. Following talks with officials regarding the activist’s requests, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde later that evening dispatched a delegation bearing a draft ordinance.

Amol Shinde, the personal secretary of the chief minister, Madhukar Arangal, the divisional commissioner of Aurangabad, and Secretary of the Department of Social Justice Sumant Bhange were among the delegation members.

Patil stated, “Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has done a good job,” after reviewing the draft ordinance. We have concluded our demonstration. Our request has been granted. We are not going to accept his letter. Tomorrow (Saturday), I will sip juice from the Chief Minister’s hand.

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Following the state government’s approval of Patil’s demands, the Maratha activists in Navi Mumbai rejoiced and declared an end to their protests.

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On Saturday, the Maharashtra government released a notification designating as Kunbis those blood relatives of Maratha community members for whom records of their Kunbi caste have been located. Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Denotified Tribes, Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and Special Backward Category (Regulation of Issuing and Verification of) Caste Certificate (Amendment) Rules, 2024, according to the proposed regulations.

The Maratha Community was given the assurance by CM Eknath Shinde that they would receive all advantages accorded to OBCs till the reservation issue as a whole is resolved. “All of the promises made to Marathas will come to pass, I swear. No group will experience injustice while carrying out this,” the Indian Express cited Shinde as stating.

The Maratha community was commended by Chief Minister Shinde for a “successful and peaceful protest”. Shinde claimed to “know the pain of poor Marathas,” citing the fact that he comes from a farming family as well. According to the chief minister, he is keeping his word, having sworn allegiance to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The Maratha activist declared that the four-month battle was for the Maratha reservation after concluding his demonstration. “Over 300 people took their own lives.They are attempting to cause a split between us, but we will not allow one to form between OBCs and Marathas. He addressed his fans, saying, “There is a lot of love between OBC and Marathas; we are all together.”

Manoj Jarange Patil, an activist, broke his fast on Saturday in front of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and a sizable gathering of Patil’s followers. In an attempt to break Patil’s hunger strike, CM Shinde supplied juice.