Jaranj, who led the Maratha agitation to demand quotas, criticized the government at a public meeting at Rajgurunagar in Pune. “Had the state government decided to give reservation to the community, Kavle would not have committed suicide. We will not let this sacrifice go to waste,” Jarange said to the large crowd.
Before the rally in Rajgurunagar, Jarang visited Shivneri, the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. During the rally, the activist appealed to community members to continue campaigning peacefully. “Some people are trying to incite the community to resort to violence to undermine the entire movement, but I urge everyone not to take the law into their own hands. We will get reservation only through peaceful agitation,” said Jaranj, who came into limelight during the hunger strike in Jalna last month.
Reacting to Union Minister Narayan Rane’s statement that no Maratha will get Kunbi certificate, Jaranj said some people tried to mislead the community but Kunbi and Marathas are the same. “There are two types of Marathas. One is “Maratha Warriors” and the other is “Maratha Farmers”. In the old days, agriculture was called Kunbi. Since Marathas are a farming community, we should get Kunbi certificate,” he said.
Claiming that the agitation over Maratha reservation has reached a decisive stage, Jaranj said, “Though the government demanded 30 days to announce the reservation, we have given them 40. Now the government has to announce it. Otherwise, a further course of intensified agitation would have been announced on October 22.”
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On the Maratha plan to intensify the agitation, State Cooperation Minister Dilip Waltz-Patil said, “Such issues can be resolved through discussions. The government has already made it clear that it supports reservation for the community. The community leader should give the government some time to take up the challenge.”
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Sunil Kavale, a Maratha quota activist, committed suicide and left behind a four-page note urging community members to take part in the protest on October 24. The protest demands OBC quota reservation for Marathas. Another quota activist, Manoj Jarange-Patil, blamed the government for the current situation and called for a decision on Maratha reservation. Vinod Patil of Maratha Kranti Morcha also expressed concern and urged the government to take immediate steps to prevent further suicides. The police have registered a case and are investigating.
Maratha quota activist commits suicide on BKC bridge in Mumbai
45-year-old Maratha activist from Jalna Sunil Kavale committed suicide by hanging himself from a bridge. In his suicide note, Kavale urged the Maratha community to take part in the October 24 protest in defense of their reservation. This is the third suicide related to the quota issue since August. Maratha Kranti Morcha coordinator Vinod Patil said this is not the right way to achieve their demands and urged the government to prevent further suicides. The government offered the Kavale family financial assistance and work.
Mumbai: Maratha Kranti Morcha supporter hanged himself from BKC link bridge on Western Express Highway
A Maratha Kranti Morcha worker committed suicide by hanging himself from a bridge in Mumbai. The deceased left a suicide note urging the Maratha community to fight for reservation rights. The incident has sparked calls for immediate action to prevent further suicides among Maratha youth. Police have launched an investigation into the matter and political leaders have made statements on the issue of caste in India.