Marathaโข Quotaโ Protests Intensify as Jarange begins โFast, Maharashtra โขGovernment Calls Emergency Session
Mumbai: Activist Manoj Jarange began an indefinite โfast on Tuesday, refusing even water, to escalate pressure on the Maharashtra government to grant Maratha โcommunity members reservations inโ jobs and education.This โescalation comes โas the state government convenes a special session of the legislature and an all-party meeting to address the long-standing and politically sensitive Maratha reservation issue. Simultaneously, Mumbai Police have issued a traffic advisory anticipating disruptions due to planned protests.
The Marathaโ community, a significantโค social and political โforce in Maharashtra, has been demanding increased reservationโข quotas, arguing they are educationally and economically backward. Previous protestsโข have highlighted the community’s frustration with existing reservation policies and a perceived lack of governmentโฃ action. The โคcurrent agitation centers on demands for a completeโ solution, including a constitutional amendment to exceed the 52% reservation ceiling setโค by the Supreme Court – a proposal that โhas drawn criticism from some quarters.
Hereโค are the key developments:
Jarange’s Fast: Manoj Jarange commenced his indefinite fast, refusing even water, intensifyingโ the pressure โon the state government.
government Response: The Maharashtra government has called a special session of the state legislature and an โall-party meeting to find a resolution to the Maratha reservation issue.
Political Fallout: BJP leaders have criticized NCP โ(SP) chief Sharad Pawar after he suggested a constitutional amendment โคmay โคbe necessary. NCPโฃ minister Chhagan Bhujbal is holding a meeting of OBC leaders opposingโ any dilution of existing OBC quotas.
Media Concerns: The TV Journalists Association has lodged a complaint with Jarange regarding alleged misbehavior towards women reporters by some protestors at Azad Maidan, threatening aโ media boycott if the โincidents continue.
* Traffic Advisory: Mumbai Police have issued a traffic advisory anticipating โdisruptions dueโค to planned protests, urging citizens to plan โขtheirโข commutes accordingly.