Pune:

A court here on Tuesday issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange in connection with a 2013 cheating case after he failed to appear before it, his lawyer said.

Manoj Jarange has launched a fresh indefinite hunger strike over the quota demand since July 20 at his village in Jalna district.

He had appeared before the court on May 31 after an NBW was issued against him. The court then cancelled the NBW but imposed a penalty of Rs 500 on him.

“A hearing was scheduled today before the judicial magistrate here in the case, but as Jaranage is currently on hunger strike, he could not be present,” said advocate Harshad Nimbalkar, his lawyer.

“We will have him appear before the court and get the NBW cancelled,” Harshad Nimbalkar added.

A case under Indian Penal Code section 420 (cheating) and 406 (criminal breach of trust) was registered against Manoj Jarange and two others in 2013.

Manoj Jarange and co-accused had in 2012 approached the complainant, who stages plays on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, for six shows of “Shambhuraje” in Jalna district and offered him Rs 30 lakh.

While Rs 16 lakh were paid, there was some dispute over the remaining money, leading to a complaint. The court then ordered the police to register a case.

“Jarange had secured anticipatory (pre-arrest) bail in the case in 2013. The police filed a chargesheet but no summons was issued to Jarange. The court took cognisance of the case in January 2024 and issued two summons to him,” Harshad Nimbalkar said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Monday accused Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of supporting his cabinet colleague and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal’s demand for nullifying the Kunbi evidence in Maharashtra.

Addressing a rally in Nanded, Jarange indicated that candidates of the ruling Mahayuti will be defeated in all 288 seats in the upcoming assembly elections.

“I challenge Devendra Fadnavis. You are giving power to Chhagan Bhujbal. We don’t have a problem with it. But you are making OBCs stand against the Marathas. You should not listen to Chhagan Bhujbal and damage the BJP in the state,” said Jarange, who has been demanding the reservation for the Maratha community by recognising them as Kunbis under the OBC grouping.

“Give us the reservation of our share. But if you listen to Chhagan Bhujbal, your 288 candidates (in upcoming assembly polls) will be defeated. We know that we did not get anything since 1980. But then why are they (Fadnavis) repeating the same mistake? When he gave 13 per cent reservation to Marathas, the community gave 106 MLAs to BJP,” he said.

Jarange alleged the government has said on paper that 57 lakh evidences of ‘Kunbi’ are found.

“Even if we consider three people getting benefit from one piece of evidence, 1.5 crore Marathas went into quota and Bhujbal calls me mad even after this,” he claimed.

Jarange alleged that the agitation (of the OBC community) commenced when Marathas were staging protests for reservation, which means the state is supporting OBC agitators and wants violence.

“We want to win this fight (of agitation) by peace. Marathas and OBCs in villages should remain peaceful,” he added.

He accused the government of conspiring against him.

“They tried to attack me and also appointed an SIT (Special Investigation Team) to put me behind bars. But I am not afraid. Officers from the Maratha community are also being threatened now,” Jarange alleged.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Mumbai:

Marathas belong to the Kunbi caste, which comes under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, and are not demanding any separate reservation, quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil said during an exclusive interview with NDTV.

Mr Patil, face of the Maratha quota agitation, has been on an indefinite hunger strike since October 25. This triggered a fresh wave of protests and violence broke out in parts of the state on Monday.

However, Mr Patil said the protests are being held peacefully and he’s not aware who are indulging in violence.

The Maratha community has faced injustice for years and this time they will not relent until they get reservation, said the activist. “Marathas across the country support us. I am not afraid of dying. My aim is to get reservation for the Maratha community,” he added.

“We are Kunbis. We are already in the OBC category. Why do we need separate reservation? If one brother gets reservation, then why not another? It is our right,” said Mr Patil. “We, Kunbis, are farmers and if reservation is being given based on one’s occupation, then why aren’t we getting it,” he questioned.

Marathas will keep protesting until the community gets reservation as Kunbis, he asserted. “If law and order situation deteriorate, then it is the responsibility of the government,” added Mr Patil.

The Maharashtra government is in favour of Maratha quota, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said after an all-party meeting in Mumbai today. They also passed a resolution urging Mr Patil to call off his hunger strike.

Mumbai:

Amid incidents of violence over the Maratha reservation issue in parts of Maharashtra, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday called activist Manoj Jarange over the phone and assured a concrete decision on giving Kunbi certificates to the Maratha community during the state cabinet’s meeting to be held later in the day. Jarange has been on an indefinite hunger strike at his native Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district since October 25 to demand reservation for the Maratha community.

After a “satisfactory” discussion with CM Shinde, Jarange started consuming water during his protest, a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said.

Maratha community members have been staging protests in different parts of the state seeking reservation in government jobs and education under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. At some places, quota supporters vandalised and torched the residences of some politicians. A curfew has been imposed in Maharashtra’s Dharashiv district after incidents of violence.

CM Shinde called up Jarange on Tuesday morning and enquired about his health, the CMO statement said.

CM Shinde assured Jarange that he would take a concrete decision regarding issuing Kunbi caste certificates to the Maratha community in the cabinet meeting to be held later in the day, it said.

Shinde also informed Jarange that the state government was prepared to file a curative petition in the Supreme Court over the Maratha reservation issue.

In May 2021, the Supreme Court struck down Maharashtra’s Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Act, 2018, which granted reservation to the Maratha community, for violating the 50 per cent quota limit.

The Maratha community, led by Jarange, has been demanding the issuance of Kunbi certificates to Marathas, enabling them to get inclusion in the OBC category for reservation. Kunbis (the community associated with agriculture) are grouped under the OBC category in Maharashtra.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)