The Maratha and Other Backward Class (OBC) communities have announced their rallies in Mumbai on January 20, 2024, setting the stage for a massive clash on the burning issue of reservations.
Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil has chosen to organise a massive rally in Mumbai. A Maratha delegation arrived in Mumbai on Friday to finalise the venue, engaging in discussions with Maratha Kranti Morcha coordinators based in the city.
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Insisting on a resolution to the reservation issue, Jarange-Patil stated, “The state government should present a formula to address the reservation issue. We advocate for Maratha reservation within the OBC category.”
In response to the Marathas, OBC outfits in Maharashtra are gearing up for protests across the state, including Mumbai. The OBC Jan Morcha has officially sought police permission for a rally at Azad Maidan on January 20.
OBC Jan Morcha president Prakash Shendge stated, “Our rally is for OBC rights. We vehemently oppose the reservation of Marathas in the OBC category. We will not allow it at any cost. Marathas should get separate reservations, and OBC reservations should remain intact. We will not allow its dilution at any cost,” The Indian Express reported.
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Babanrao Taywade, president of OBC Mahasangh, highlighted the fight for OBC rights, stating, “We are not against the Maratha reservation, but Jarange-Patil is seeking reservation within the OBC quota, which is not acceptable to us.”
As Jarange-Patil’s December 24 deadline for Maratha reservation has passed, the state government has requested additional time, citing ongoing processes. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, “The state government is doing everything possible to ensure Maratha reservation.”
Shinde has called for a special session in February 2024 to find a workable formula for the Maratha reservation. The state government remains optimistic about the Supreme Court’s scheduled curative petition hearing on January 24 as a positive development.
Simultaneously, the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission is actively working to provide empirical data proving the backwardness of the Maratha community.