Pune: State minister and chairman of the cabinet sub-committee on the Maratha reservation issue, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, stated on Friday that accurate information regarding the government's actions on the quota matter is not reaching activist Manoj Jarange. He expressed his intention to meet Jarange in the coming days to persuade him against launching a fresh agitation.
Jarange recently convened a meeting with his supporters at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, where he accused the government of failing to fulfill its promises concerning reservation for the Maratha community. He also announced a statewide agitation against the government starting May 30.
The state government has since been attempting to convince Jarange to withdraw the agitation call. Speaking to reporters in Ahilyanagar, Vikhe Patil emphasized that the government remains committed to resolving the Maratha reservation issue and is taking appropriate steps.
“Our government is positive about the Maratha reservation issue, and we are moving in the right direction for its implementation. However, there appears to be some discrepancy in the information reaching Jarange from the government side, because of which he may feel that the promises are not being fulfilled,” Vikhe Patil said. “To avoid any further misunderstanding or miscommunication, I will be meeting Jarange in the next few days and will hold discussions with him,” he added.
Recently, BJP MLA Prasad Lad had also visited Antarwali Sarati and held a meeting with Jarange on the reservation issue.
Meanwhile, OBC activists have objected to government representatives meeting Jarange over the issue. OBC activist Laxman Hake criticized the move and questioned Lad’s involvement in the matter.
“Prasad Lad has no detailed knowledge of the reservation issue, so why is he interfering in such a serious matter and meeting Jarange as a representative of the government? Jarange’s demands are anti-OBC, and therefore we are urging the government not to entertain him anymore,” Hake said.
