The Jalna district police have set terms and conditions for Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil to hold a protest at Azad Maidan on Friday, August 29. The conditions include limiting the protest to a single day, restricting entry to five vehicles, and capping the number of Maratha supporters at 5,000 in Mumbai.
Reacting to the police’s decision, Jarange-Patil said, “I will not comment much on the permission for the protest right now, as I do not know the exact terms and conditions. I will read the police order and then respond. However, I thank the government and the court for granting permission to protest.”
He added, “I will follow all the rules of democracy and law. My community members will also follow the rules. We are not stubborn. All conditions set by the administration will be strictly adhered to. But we want to protest indefinitely. We have decided to continue until our demands are accepted. While following all other rules, our agitation will not be limited to just one day.”
Jarange-Patil made these remarks to the media on Wednesday while travelling to Mumbai by road from Antarwali Sarati with thousands of Maratha supporters.
According to officials, the police sent him a letter containing 40 conditions along with the protest permission and also provided a copy of the Bombay High Court’s order on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, police sources said Marathas from Hingoli left for Mumbai on Tuesday night. On Wednesday morning, hundreds of Marathas from Digras Karhale village also departed for Mumbai in 24 vehicles carrying enough rations to last a month.
In a related development, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader and School Education Minister Dada Bhuse said, “Manoj Jarange-Patil’s demands are valid. There is no reason to disagree with them. But since the Ganesh festival is ongoing in Mumbai and Maharashtra, if he opts for dialogue instead of agitation during this period, a satisfactory solution can be found.”
Significantly, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena MP from Parbhani, Sanjay Jadhav, criticized the Fadnavis government and announced his participation in the protest.
“After the Lok Sabha elections, Jarange-Patil suspended his agitation. Why did the government not act on Maratha reservations since then? Now, suddenly, they are asking him not to protest. That will not work. Devendra Fadnavis must resolve the Maratha reservation issue, or things may spiral out of control. The BJP is practising tyranny and dictatorship in the country and the state, creating rifts between communities. I will join the protest on August 29, not as an MP, but as a member of society,” Jadhav said.
Senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat also extended support, stating, “I pray to Lord Ganesha for the success of Jarange-Patil’s movement and for reservation to be granted to every section of the Maratha community. The Marathas have responded to his call in large numbers. The government must respect their demands. The community has expectations from the present government, which should take a decision soon. The central government, too, can resolve the issue. While granting Maratha reservation, the interests of OBCs must not be compromised.”
Speaking on the agitation, Congress leader Nana Patole remarked, “The Ganesh festival has begun. If the Fadnavis government had imbibed Ganesha’s wisdom, this agitation would not have been necessary. The government has deceived all sections of society, including Marathas, OBCs, and backward classes. If it wants this movement to end, it must act in line with Ganesha’s ideals.”
Patole further added, “The Congress has consistently demanded a caste-wise census to resolve all reservation issues. Although the Modi government announced such a census, the process has not yet begun. The government must hold talks with Jarange-Patil.”