Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar activist Manoj Jarange on Thursday alleged that the Maharashtra government's stance that the inclusion of the term 'sage soyare' in the Maratha reservation notification will not stand up to legal scrutiny indicated that it was against such a provision.
Speaking to reporters a day earlier, Minister Girish Mahajan had said that Jarange was demanding reservation for the "sage soyare" (those related by birth or marriage) of Marathas who possess the Kunbi caste certificate, but will not resist legal scrutiny if challenged in court.
"As far as I know, such reservation cannot be made, but if there is a viable solution, the government will look for it," the BJP leader had said.
Reacting to the statement, Jarange told reporters that he remained firm in his stand that Marathas should get reservation in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.
Kunbi, an agrarian community, enjoys OBC status in Maharashtra. Jarange has been demanding that Kunbi certificates be issued to all Marathas, making them eligible for quotas in government jobs and education.
"We are not snatching reservation from anyone. Our demand is legal and we will accept reservations from the OBC category," said the activist who is being treated at a hospital here after ending his hunger strike over the demand.
"When Mahajan says that the 'sage-soyare' provision will not be upheld in court, it means that it is their plan, they do not want it to be upheld (judicial scrutiny). It seems that the government is planning to give us reservations through 'sage soyare' and that it does not hold up in court," he said.
The government enacted a law to provide ten per cent reservation to the Maratha community, but faced legal challenges before it could come into effect, Jarange noted.
"But now we will take reservations from the OBC category. If they are not given, we will win or lose contesting the elections. The Maratha community has trusted (deputy chief minister) Devendra Fadnavis. The government should give us reservations," he added.
Assembly elections will be held in Maharashtra in October.
OBC leaders, including senior state minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, are strongly opposed to Marathas sharing the OBC quota, and activists Laxman Hake and Navnath Waghmare have been on hunger strike for the past few eight days for the same issue.
Meanwhile, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said the Union government must intervene and find a solution acceptable to both Marathas and OBCs.
"A change will have to be made in the policies of the State and the Central governments. The governments, especially the Centre, must take the initiative to address the demands of both the communities and ensure that the agitation does not cross a boundary and there are no social conflicts. Governments cannot be mere spectators," he told reporters in Baramati on Thursday.
The opposition will not play politics on the issue if the government takes positive steps, Pawar said.
"We will cooperate to reduce social tension, but if they (the government) do nothing, we will unite all parties and collectively decide the future course of action," he said.
Speaking in Pune on Wednesday, minister Girish Mahajan claimed that the previous Fadnavis-led government provided quota to the Marathas without disturbing the reservation of other communities.
He claimed that the Uddhav Thackeray-led government that came to power later did not defend reservation before the Supreme Court.
The BJP wanted to offer reservation to the Maratha community without disturbing the OBC quota, he said.
Speaking to reporters a day earlier, Minister Girish Mahajan had said that Jarange was demanding reservation for the "sage soyare" (those related by birth or marriage) of Marathas who possess the Kunbi caste certificate, but will not resist legal scrutiny if challenged in court.
"As far as I know, such reservation cannot be made, but if there is a viable solution, the government will look for it," the BJP leader had said.
Reacting to the statement, Jarange told reporters that he remained firm in his stand that Marathas should get reservation in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.
Kunbi, an agrarian community, enjoys OBC status in Maharashtra. Jarange has been demanding that Kunbi certificates be issued to all Marathas, making them eligible for quotas in government jobs and education.
"We are not snatching reservation from anyone. Our demand is legal and we will accept reservations from the OBC category," said the activist who is being treated at a hospital here after ending his hunger strike over the demand.
"When Mahajan says that the 'sage-soyare' provision will not be upheld in court, it means that it is their plan, they do not want it to be upheld (judicial scrutiny). It seems that the government is planning to give us reservations through 'sage soyare' and that it does not hold up in court," he said.
The government enacted a law to provide ten per cent reservation to the Maratha community, but faced legal challenges before it could come into effect, Jarange noted.
"But now we will take reservations from the OBC category. If they are not given, we will win or lose contesting the elections. The Maratha community has trusted (deputy chief minister) Devendra Fadnavis. The government should give us reservations," he added.
Assembly elections will be held in Maharashtra in October.
OBC leaders, including senior state minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, are strongly opposed to Marathas sharing the OBC quota, and activists Laxman Hake and Navnath Waghmare have been on hunger strike for the past few eight days for the same issue.
Meanwhile, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said the Union government must intervene and find a solution acceptable to both Marathas and OBCs.
"A change will have to be made in the policies of the State and the Central governments. The governments, especially the Centre, must take the initiative to address the demands of both the communities and ensure that the agitation does not cross a boundary and there are no social conflicts. Governments cannot be mere spectators," he told reporters in Baramati on Thursday.
The opposition will not play politics on the issue if the government takes positive steps, Pawar said.
"We will cooperate to reduce social tension, but if they (the government) do nothing, we will unite all parties and collectively decide the future course of action," he said.
Speaking in Pune on Wednesday, minister Girish Mahajan claimed that the previous Fadnavis-led government provided quota to the Marathas without disturbing the reservation of other communities.
He claimed that the Uddhav Thackeray-led government that came to power later did not defend reservation before the Supreme Court.
The BJP wanted to offer reservation to the Maratha community without disturbing the OBC quota, he said.
