NAGPUR: Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Sunday upped the ante against Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis by saying that reservation for Marathas can only come through CM Eknath Shinde. Speaking to reporters at Latur, Jarange said: “Only CM Shinde can give reservation to Marathas.”
The previous day at Nanded, Jarange had slammed Fadnavis for “defending” cops over the September 1 lathi-charge on Maratha protesters at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district.
Jarange, who had so far been training his verbal barbs only at cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal as the latter has emerged as the face of OBC pushback against Maratha reservation in OBC quotahas now brought the deputy chief minister on his radar.
Regarding Jarange’s earlier demand for withdrawal of all cases registered against Maratha protesters, Fadnavis had informed the state legislative assembly during the ongoing winter session that necessary action will be taken after the investigations are over. The home minister also revealed statistics, which showed that more cops as compared to protesters, were injured during the lathi-charge.
Jarange told reporters that he felt there was some sort of understanding between Fadnavis and Bhujbal in this entire episode and hence “Marathas in the state have to be careful. It seems there’s some game plan by Fadnavis, which I won’t allow to succeed”.
Reacting to Jarange’s statement, BJP MLA Nitesh Rane released a video addressed to the Maratha quota activist, saying that Fadnavis should not be targeted. “If you (Jarange) keep saying such things, then we will inquire who is writing your speeches,” said Rane.
Meanwhile, state Congress president Nana Patole said that the entire friction in the quota agitation is a state-sponsored one. “Both communities going head-to-head is an unwanted thing in Maharashtra,” said Patole.
The previous day at Nanded, Jarange had slammed Fadnavis for “defending” cops over the September 1 lathi-charge on Maratha protesters at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district.
Jarange, who had so far been training his verbal barbs only at cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal as the latter has emerged as the face of OBC pushback against Maratha reservation in OBC quotahas now brought the deputy chief minister on his radar.
Regarding Jarange’s earlier demand for withdrawal of all cases registered against Maratha protesters, Fadnavis had informed the state legislative assembly during the ongoing winter session that necessary action will be taken after the investigations are over. The home minister also revealed statistics, which showed that more cops as compared to protesters, were injured during the lathi-charge.
Jarange told reporters that he felt there was some sort of understanding between Fadnavis and Bhujbal in this entire episode and hence “Marathas in the state have to be careful. It seems there’s some game plan by Fadnavis, which I won’t allow to succeed”.
Reacting to Jarange’s statement, BJP MLA Nitesh Rane released a video addressed to the Maratha quota activist, saying that Fadnavis should not be targeted. “If you (Jarange) keep saying such things, then we will inquire who is writing your speeches,” said Rane.
Meanwhile, state Congress president Nana Patole said that the entire friction in the quota agitation is a state-sponsored one. “Both communities going head-to-head is an unwanted thing in Maharashtra,” said Patole.
