Mumbai, Maharashtra Minister Shambhuraj Desai said on Tuesday that the government will seek a report from the Jalna police on claims that Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange's village was under drone surveillance.
If necessary, the security of the activist will be enhanced, the minister said in the assembly, responding to concerns raised by opposition leader and Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar.
Wadettiwar alleged that Jarange's Antarwali Sarati was under drone surveillance and the government should provide security to it.
Raising the issue in the assembly, Waddetiwar stated that the activist's life could be in danger.
Antarwali Sarati has become the epicenter of protests over reservations for the Maratha community in government jobs and education.
"Everyone has the right to protest, and if the village is under drone surveillance, it is not good. The villagers are scared," the Congress leader said.
Desai said the government will seek a report from the Jalna superintendent of police and take appropriate action.
"Jarange had been provided with armed security previously. If necessary, security will be enhanced," he said.
Meanwhile, villagers of Antarwali Sarati claimed to have seen a drone camera flying over the house of the village sarpanch, Kaushalyabai Tarakh, where Jarange resides.
According to villagers, this was the second sighting in less than a week.
A video has emerged on social media showing Jarange aiming at the drone.
"I have seen the drone myself. Some individuals are playing tricks to intimidate us, but we are not afraid. These tactics will not deter us from our fight," Jarange says in the video.
Jarange, who broke his indefinite fast last month, has been demanding implementation of the draft notification that recognizes the Kunbis as “sage soyare” (blood relatives) of members of the Maratha community and also seeks a law to identify the Kunbis as Marathas.
Kunbi, an agrarian group, belongs to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, and the activist has been demanding that Kunbi certificates be issued to all Marathas, thereby making them eligible for quota benefits.
If necessary, the security of the activist will be enhanced, the minister said in the assembly, responding to concerns raised by opposition leader and Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar.
Wadettiwar alleged that Jarange's Antarwali Sarati was under drone surveillance and the government should provide security to it.
Raising the issue in the assembly, Waddetiwar stated that the activist's life could be in danger.
Antarwali Sarati has become the epicenter of protests over reservations for the Maratha community in government jobs and education.
"Everyone has the right to protest, and if the village is under drone surveillance, it is not good. The villagers are scared," the Congress leader said.
Desai said the government will seek a report from the Jalna superintendent of police and take appropriate action.
"Jarange had been provided with armed security previously. If necessary, security will be enhanced," he said.
Meanwhile, villagers of Antarwali Sarati claimed to have seen a drone camera flying over the house of the village sarpanch, Kaushalyabai Tarakh, where Jarange resides.
According to villagers, this was the second sighting in less than a week.
A video has emerged on social media showing Jarange aiming at the drone.
"I have seen the drone myself. Some individuals are playing tricks to intimidate us, but we are not afraid. These tactics will not deter us from our fight," Jarange says in the video.
Jarange, who broke his indefinite fast last month, has been demanding implementation of the draft notification that recognizes the Kunbis as “sage soyare” (blood relatives) of members of the Maratha community and also seeks a law to identify the Kunbis as Marathas.
Kunbi, an agrarian group, belongs to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, and the activist has been demanding that Kunbi certificates be issued to all Marathas, thereby making them eligible for quota benefits.
