Pune's Maratha community to stage candlelight march today
Hindustan Times. They have started a chain strike to support quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil's hunger protest to intensify the agitation over the Maratha reservation issue. Protestors from the Maratha community also blocked the Pune-Nashik highway near Chakan early morning today which also affected the vehicular traffic.
However, the road was later cleared by the police officials. On Tuesday, CM Eknath Shinde said that he understands the pain and sorrow of the Maratha community. “I am aware of their pain and sorrow.
The Justice Shinde (retd) committee is working 24 hours and a curative petition has been filed in the Supreme Court (which had struck down the Maratha quota) and it has been admitted. Hence a window has been opened." The Maratha reservation matter gained prominence in Maharashtra politics when, during his hunger strike protest in September, supporters of Jarange were reportedly subjected to a police baton charge at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district. The Shinde government after several rounds of negotiations between Jarange Patil and the government-appointed representatives last week issued a government resolution offering certificates to those Marathas in Marathwada who have records from the Nizam era.
However, Jarange Patil has rejected the state government resolution, saying he will not break his fast unto death until all Marathas are given Kunbi certificates by the Maharashtra government. On October 19, the body of Maratha quota activist Sunil Kawale was found hanging from a lamp post along a flyover in Mumbai's Bandra area. He had left behind a suicide note seeking quota for the community.
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