Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar activist Manoj Jarange on Thursday said the Maharashtra government should give reservation to the Maratha community instead of indulging in the blame game, and warned that those opposing the demand will pay the price in the upcoming assembly elections. .
All those who worked against the interests of the community will be defeated in the next parliamentary elections, he warned.
The Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP government had recently called an all-party meeting on the Maratha quota issue, but the opposition boycotted it saying the issue should be discussed in the legislature first.
"The opposition should have asked for reservation (for Marathas) in the meeting. But if the government had political will, it should have given reservation. They should not play the blame game," Jarange said at a rally in Beed.
"But they don't want to make reservations. I suspect the government and opposition parties are on the same page. People should tell our leaders to ask for reservations, otherwise they should not come seeking votes," he added.
He also attacked minister Girish Mahajan, accusing him of trying to mislead the people.
“It now says that the ‘Sage-Soyare’ clause (in an earlier notification) was not sustainable. If so, why is (OBC leader and Chief Minister) Chhagan Bhujbal demanding its removal? Why are they (Other Backward Classes activists) agitated?" Jarange asked.
The Sage-Soyare clause in the notification issued by the government earlier this year said that if a Maratha person has established (by submitting documents) that he or she is Kunbi, the blood relatives of the person (`Sage-Soyare ) should also be recognized as Kunbi. Kunbis and get a place in OBC category. Kunbis, an agrarian community, enjoys OBC status.
Alleging that the Maratha community was being attacked, he said they know how to protect themselves.
"Our parents have taught us how to protect ourselves. We are Kshatriya Marathas but we want peace... We will defeat all those who opposed the Marathas in the assembly elections. Not a single person who caused problems to the Maratha community should be elected "he said, adding that the community should vote as a bloc.
He also said that OBCs were not enemies of the Maratha community.
"Our enemy is Chhagan Bhujbal because he is the leader of all (those who oppose the inclusion of Marathas in the OBC category)," Jarange said.
If the government does not listen to the demands of the Maratha community, "it will stay out of Mumbai (lose power) and we will be in Mumbai," he said.
"I will tell you the names of the leaders who will be overthrown (in the elections). We have to make a change one day," the activist said.
All those who worked against the interests of the community will be defeated in the next parliamentary elections, he warned.
The Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP government had recently called an all-party meeting on the Maratha quota issue, but the opposition boycotted it saying the issue should be discussed in the legislature first.
"The opposition should have asked for reservation (for Marathas) in the meeting. But if the government had political will, it should have given reservation. They should not play the blame game," Jarange said at a rally in Beed.
"But they don't want to make reservations. I suspect the government and opposition parties are on the same page. People should tell our leaders to ask for reservations, otherwise they should not come seeking votes," he added.
He also attacked minister Girish Mahajan, accusing him of trying to mislead the people.
“It now says that the ‘Sage-Soyare’ clause (in an earlier notification) was not sustainable. If so, why is (OBC leader and Chief Minister) Chhagan Bhujbal demanding its removal? Why are they (Other Backward Classes activists) agitated?" Jarange asked.
The Sage-Soyare clause in the notification issued by the government earlier this year said that if a Maratha person has established (by submitting documents) that he or she is Kunbi, the blood relatives of the person (`Sage-Soyare ) should also be recognized as Kunbi. Kunbis and get a place in OBC category. Kunbis, an agrarian community, enjoys OBC status.
Alleging that the Maratha community was being attacked, he said they know how to protect themselves.
"Our parents have taught us how to protect ourselves. We are Kshatriya Marathas but we want peace... We will defeat all those who opposed the Marathas in the assembly elections. Not a single person who caused problems to the Maratha community should be elected "he said, adding that the community should vote as a bloc.
He also said that OBCs were not enemies of the Maratha community.
"Our enemy is Chhagan Bhujbal because he is the leader of all (those who oppose the inclusion of Marathas in the OBC category)," Jarange said.
If the government does not listen to the demands of the Maratha community, "it will stay out of Mumbai (lose power) and we will be in Mumbai," he said.
"I will tell you the names of the leaders who will be overthrown (in the elections). We have to make a change one day," the activist said.
