Protest Turning Point? Jarange Denies, Condemns Police Force on Supporters
Jalna, 31st January 2024: Lathicharge on protesters at Antarwali Sarati was a blot on the agitation, remarked Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange during a session at the Pune Union of Working Journalists (PUWJ). Jarange expressed his dissatisfaction with the police’s use of force on his supporters in September last year, stating that it left a stain on the entire quota protest.
Addressing concerns about whether the lathi-charge marked a turning point in the agitation, Jarange denied this characterization, emphasizing that they did not seek reservation at the expense of the physical harm inflicted on their mothers and sisters during the incident. He detailed the severity of the assault, including bullets being fired and injuries sustained by peaceful protesters, many of whom were women carrying small children.
Jarange questioned the sudden escalation of police action two days after the superintendent of police had appreciated his efforts to persuade over two lakh agitators to disperse peacefully. Expressing disapproval of attacks on elected representatives’ homes, Jarange clarified that those involved in such incidents were not genuine agitators.
Responding to Minister Chhagan Bhujbal’s assertion that Marathas gained OBC quota entry through a backdoor, Jarange refuted this claim. He argued that records designating Marathas as Kunbi caste members have existed for 70 years, and the recent notification merely granted them reservation benefits under the OBC category, asserting that it was their rightful entitlement.
Highlighting the need for the implementation of the ‘sage soyare’ clause, which addresses blood relatives of such Marathas, Jarange emphasized that this step is crucial as it would bring a significant number of Marathas under the OBC category. He concluded by announcing his intention to launch a fresh hunger strike from February 10 if the Maharashtra government fails to implement the notification regarding Kunbi caste certificates for the Marathas.
