NEW DELHI: Activist Manoj Jarange warned that if Marathas are betrayed over quota, ruling parties in Maharashtra will face electoral backlash, asserting that all community members must be included under the OBC category.The quota movement leader spoke to reporters at a private hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where he was admitted after ending his five-day hunger strike in Mumbai, which he had launched to demand reservation in education and government jobs for Marathas. Jarange called off the stir on Tuesday following the Maharashtra government’s announcement to form a committee to issue Kunbi caste certificates to Maratha community members with historical evidence of Kunbi heritage, a social group classified as an Other Backward Class (OBC) in the state.“If the Hyderabad and Satara gazettes are not implemented in a month, we will make them (ruling parties) bite the dust in the upcoming elections. Step by step, I will ensure that the entire Maratha community is included in the OBC category,” he asserted.The activist said his struggle for reservation is for Marathas from across the state.“The agitation will continue as the Marathas in the Konkan region are yet to be covered. The people of Konkan should avail themselves of the reservation benefits, or else they will regret it after 40-50 years. They should not listen to anyone and put their future generations in jeopardy,” he said.When asked about the formation of a cabinet sub-committee to fast-track OBC welfare measures and address reservation issues, Jarange said they had no objection.“If we get something, they (some OBC leaders) make demands. They always whine. But if OBCs benefit from it, we are happy. If the government is initiating such steps for OBCs, they should also constitute sub-committees for Dalits, Muslims, tribals and farmers,” he added.The sensitive Maratha quota issue remains unsettled as Maharashtra minister and senior OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Wednesday openly expressed his displeasure over the government resolution (GR) aimed at expediting Kunbi caste certificates for eligible Marathas. Bhujbal even skipped a cabinet meeting and later hinted at a possible legal challenge. Activist Jarange also criticised those creating confusion over the quota matter.“Even if anyone creates confusion over the issue, the Maratha community and I do not trust such people. Those who are creating confusion now and crying hoarse, were they asleep all this while? Why don’t they attend meetings or agitations. They are not present anywhere and just appear on the television,” he said.Earlier, activist Vinod Patil, who had filed court petitions on the Maratha quota, described the government resolution (GR) granting Kunbi certificates to eligible Marathas as completely ineffective.(With inputs from agency)
