29 October,2023 04:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Uddhav Thackeray at his party’s Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park in on Tuesday/SAMEER MARKANDE
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray emphasized the need for reservation in jobs and education for the Maratha and Dhangar communities without adversely affecting the existing benefits for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes, stated a report in PTI. This statement comes as a response to the ongoing demands of a section of the Maratha community for inclusion in the OBC category and the Dhangars' quest for Scheduled Tribe status, the report added.
In a plea to the Eknath Shinde government, Thackeray urged them not to jeopardise the life of Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange, who has been on a hunger strike since October 25, and instead, to address the reservation issue. Thackeray stressed the importance of safeguarding the social harmony of the state.
"Manoj Jarange-Patil's health is deteriorating. If the government is playing politics with their lives, they are harming the social unity of Maharashtra. The Maratha community is demanding their rights and they should get them. The Maratha and Dhangar communities should get lasting reservation of their rights without jeopardising the rights of OBCs, tribals and other communities," Thackeray's statement read.
He added, "Jarange-Patil is on a hunger strike, but people are committing suicide every day for reservation. Is the government going to place the order of reservation on the dead body of the society? Govt is talking man ki baat.. but their mind is heartless. His role in saving Jarange-Patil's life is not seen."
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Thackeray accused the state government of speaking "mann ki baat" (speaking one's mind) without displaying genuine empathy or intention to save Jarange's life, stated the PTI report. He highlighted Jarange's earlier hunger strike from August 29 to September 14, which was broken based on the state government's assurances of working towards Maratha community reservation. However, Jarange resumed his hunger strike after the October 24 deadline passed without the expected quota provision.
Thackeray expressed deep concern for the youth within the Maratha community who have resorted to suicide as a means of protest against the delayed quota. He questioned whether the government would only act when faced with the tragedies of those within the community.
In recent months, multiple instances of Maratha community members committing suicide in various parts of the state have been reported in support of their quota demands.
