Jalna (Maharashtra), Kota activist Manoj Jarange on Monday claimed that the Congress is speaking against the interests of the Maratha community and will have to face consequences in the Maharashtra Assembly elections to be held later this year.
Speaking to reporters on the third day of his indefinite fast at Jalna's Antarwali Sarathi village, Jarange reiterated his demand for implementation of the draft notification that recognizes Kunbis as "Rishi Soyre" (blood relatives) of Maratha community members. And demanded to make a law for identification. Kunbi as Maratha.
Newly elected Congress MP from Jalna Kalyan Kale visited the village on Monday and met Jarange.
Kunbi, an agrarian group, falls under the Other Backward Class (OBC) category, and Jarange is demanding that Kunbi certificates be issued to all Marathas, making them eligible for quota benefits.In February this year, the Maharashtra Legislature unanimously passed a bill providing 10 percent reservation for Marathas in education and government jobs under a separate category.
It is noteworthy that Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar had opposed giving reservation to the OBC community.
Asked about Wadettiwar's comments, Jarange said on Monday, "Congress took votes from the Maratha people in the recent Lok Sabha elections and now they are speaking against our interests. They will have to face the consequences in the assembly elections."
In the recently held Lok Sabha elections, the Congress won 13 of the 17 seats it contested in the state as part of the opposition alliance.Jarange also demanded implementation of Hyderabad Gazetteer for Kunbi records of Marathas.
He said that 57 lakh documents have been received which prove that Maratha and Kunbi are one and the same.
He also demanded withdrawal of cases against the protesters demanding Maratha reservation.Earlier, the workers had agitated on the reservation issue between 10 and 26 February.
Speaking to reporters on the third day of his indefinite fast at Jalna's Antarwali Sarathi village, Jarange reiterated his demand for implementation of the draft notification that recognizes Kunbis as "Rishi Soyre" (blood relatives) of Maratha community members. And demanded to make a law for identification. Kunbi as Maratha.
Newly elected Congress MP from Jalna Kalyan Kale visited the village on Monday and met Jarange.
Kunbi, an agrarian group, falls under the Other Backward Class (OBC) category, and Jarange is demanding that Kunbi certificates be issued to all Marathas, making them eligible for quota benefits.In February this year, the Maharashtra Legislature unanimously passed a bill providing 10 percent reservation for Marathas in education and government jobs under a separate category.
It is noteworthy that Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar had opposed giving reservation to the OBC community.
Asked about Wadettiwar's comments, Jarange said on Monday, "Congress took votes from the Maratha people in the recent Lok Sabha elections and now they are speaking against our interests. They will have to face the consequences in the assembly elections."
In the recently held Lok Sabha elections, the Congress won 13 of the 17 seats it contested in the state as part of the opposition alliance.Jarange also demanded implementation of Hyderabad Gazetteer for Kunbi records of Marathas.
He said that 57 lakh documents have been received which prove that Maratha and Kunbi are one and the same.
He also demanded withdrawal of cases against the protesters demanding Maratha reservation.Earlier, the workers had agitated on the reservation issue between 10 and 26 February.
