Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil, in a recent address on Monday, issued an earnest appeal to the members of the Maratha community, urging them to refrain from resorting to violence and acts of arson. He emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and order within their movement.
Furthermore, he underscored that if the violent incidents persist, he is prepared to convene a press conference in order to make a collective decision regarding the course of the movement. Patil also acknowledged that some individuals, who are not affiliated with the movement, have been responsible for setting houses on fire, thereby complicating the situation.
Patil's statements come in the wake of distressing events where the residences of two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and a former minister were deliberately targeted and set ablaze in the state earlier on the same day.
One such incident involved the torching of the home belonging to MLA Sandeep Kshirsagar, who is associated with the NCP faction led by Sharad Pawar. This transpired in the Beed district, and in addition to the house, vehicles parked on the property were also set on fire.
A similar act of vandalism and arson was perpetrated against NCP MLA Prakash Solanke in Beed district. Prakash Solanke is aligned with the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar.
In response to these escalating tensions, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, urged restraint and calm among the people while simultaneously assuring them of a commitment to finding a resolution that is consistent with the legal framework. He emphasized that the Maratha community should exercise patience and refrain from adopting extreme stances or resorting to drastic measures. Fadnavis also expressed the government's commitment to granting reservation within the boundaries of the law.
Fadnavis stressed that there would be no deceptive or revocable decisions, and he implored the community to allow time for a comprehensive resolution to be reached. He conveyed optimism that, with patience, the issues at hand would be satisfactorily addressed.
Manoj Jarange Patil's advocacy centers on securing reservations for the Maratha community in both government employment and educational institutions, specifically under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.
