News Brief
Maharashtra: Maratha Quota Activist Manoj Jarange Ends Mumbai Protest As Government Concedes Their Demands
Maratha Quota Activist Manoj Jarange Patil
In a recent development, Manoj Jarange Patil, the 'activist' leading the Maratha quota movement, has called off the planned march to Mumbai after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's government accepted their demands.
Patil expressed satisfaction with the government's response, stating that their requests had been acknowledged.
“Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has done a good job. Our protest is now over. Our request has been accepted. We will accept the letter from him. I will drink juice from the hands of the Chief Minister,” Patil said.
As reported by Indian Express, Chief Minister Shinde conducted meetings with officials to discuss Jarange's demands and sent a delegation with the draft ordinance to meet the activist.
The delegation included social justice department secretary Sumant Bhange, Aurangabad divisional commissioner Madhukar Arangal, chief minister’s personal secretary Amol Shinde, and others.
The 40-year-old activist had initially planned a hunger strike at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai and made an additional demand for an amendment to the free education policy to cover all Marathas until the benefits of reservation are available for the entire community.
Responding to the development, Maharashtra Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha stated, "A movement which was going on in Maharashtra for Maratha reservation under the leadership of Manoj Jarange Patil has reached a solution today… The ordinance that was passed today has the solution to all the problems. Manoj Jarange Patil has announced that since the solution has been received, there is no need to continue the protests.”
