Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis flew to Delhi on Wednesday to meet Amit Shah over the the issue of Maratha reservation.
Sources told News18 that crucial details were discussed in the meeting that came amid activist Manoj Jarange-Patil launching an indefinite hunger strike to press for the demand for Maratha quota as the 40-day deadline he set before the Maharashtra government to provide reservation to the community came to an end on Wednesday.
The duo returned late last night after the meeting.
Expressing disappointment over the state government’s “failure” to take steps for giving reservation to the Maratha community, 40-year-old Jarange began his stir at his native Antarwali Sarati village in Ambad tehsil of Jalna district Wednesday morning.
He said he gave ample time to the government and would not wait any longer now.He accused the government of inciting certain individuals against the Maratha community over its “rightful demand”, and claimed that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was being pressured by someone to deny reservation to Marathas.
The politically influential Maratha community constitutes around 30 per cent of the state’s population.
“I had given the government a 40-day ultimatum to fulfil its promise regarding Maratha reservation…That period is over…No decision was taken by the government. Its lack of response left me with no choice but to resort to this extreme form of protest,” Manoj Jarange-Patil said.
“Maharashtra chief minister had asked me to wait for 40 days so that the government takes a decision on Maratha reservation. But he did not do it, therefore I have decided to start a fast-unto-death in my village,” he said, adding that he is not afraid of death.
“All the hard-working Marathas are behind me. Did we indulge in any wrongdoing as the government is not listening to us? What we are demanding is our right and within the constitutional framework. Maratha families are suffering a lot. We are not even making it an emotional issue,” Jarange said.
During his Dussehra rally speech in Mumbai on Tuesday, CM Eknath Shinde had said, “Without doing injustice to anyone and without withdrawing (reservation of anyone), this government will provide a quota to the Maratha community that will last permanently.”
Midway in his speech, Shinde bowed before the bust of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on the dais and vowed to grant the reservation to the Maratha community.Shinde said since he is from an ordinary Maratha family, he understands their pain and sorrow.
(With PTI inputs)
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