Manoj Jarange Patil Demands Meeting with CM Amid Ongoing Protests for Maratha Reservation

Nagpur, Maharashtra. Amidst the ongoing protests and political turmoil in the state over the Maratha reservation issue, Manoj Jarange Patil, the leader of the Maratha Reservation Struggle Committee, has once again demanded a meeting with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Jarange Patil claims that the state government should pay attention to the demands of the Maratha community and find a solution to the ongoing agitation under his leadership. He argues that the Maratha reservation issue has deeply penetrated the state's politics and society, and a meeting with the Chief Minister should be held soon to resolve it. Jarange Patil addressed a press conference on Monday, stating that the Maratha community has been struggling for reservation for many years, but the state government has not taken any concrete steps so far. He alleged that the government is only playing political tactics and not paying attention to the community's genuine concerns. Jarange Patil further said that if the government does not address this issue soon, the Maratha community's agitation may intensify, potentially disrupting the law and order situation in the state. The Maratha reservation issue has been a long-standing one in Maharashtra. In 2018, the state government had decided to provide 16% reservation to Marathas in education and government jobs, but the Mumbai High Court had struck it down. Since then, the Maratha community has held several agitations demanding reservation. The state government had passed the Maratha Reservation Act, 2021, in 2021 to give legal shape to the reservation, but it was also struck down by the High Court as unconstitutional. The state government then appealed to the Supreme Court, which has not yet made a decision. Political analysts believe that the Maratha reservation issue could be a significant turning point in the state's politics. The Maratha community constitutes about 30% of the state's population and has significant political clout. Therefore, it may be difficult for the state government to ignore this issue. The agitation led by Jarange Patil has increased the government's concerns, and a competition has begun among political parties to take a stand on this issue.