If Maratha Reservation Not Given By 24 Dec, Will Reveal Names Of OBC Leaders Opposing It: Activist Manoj Jarange

Social activist Manoj Jarange has issued a deadline to those OBC leaders who are standing as a barrier in the grant of reservation to the Marathas and threatened to reveal their names if reservation is not granted by 24 December.

According to Amar Ujala, Jarange made these remarks while addressing journalists at a private hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra on Wednesday (8 November).

Maharashtra government has extended the committee under retired judge Sandeep Shinde to study the feasibility of providing Kunbi caste certificates to members of the Maratha community in light of the protests by Jarange.

Minister Chhagan Bhujbal had previously stated that any incorrect efforts to provide reservation to the Maratha community under the OBC category would be opposed, and violence and pressure tactics would not be tolerated.

Reacting to this, Jarange stated on Wednesday, "Maratha leaders do not support us, nor are they granting us reservation. Furthermore, OBC leaders have been pressuring the government for the past 30 to 40 years to not give Maratha reservation. If the Maratha community is not granted reservation by 24 December, we will disclose these names."

He went on to say that all the benefits that OBCs are receiving should also be granted to the Maratha community, whether they are political or otherwise. OBC leaders should inform us why they are opposing Maratha reservation, he further suggested.