MUMBAI: With Maratha reservation quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil’s fast entering the fifth day, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray warned his health is deteriorating and said the government does not seem inclined to save his life
In a statement issued on Sunday, Thackeray said while Jarange Patil is on a fast, people are committing suicide daily. “Will the government place the reservation order on the dead body of society? The government does Mann ki Baat but there is no sympathy in their minds. It seems their stand is not to save Jarange Patil’s life,” he said.
Thackeray warned that if the government is playing politics over Jarange Patil’s health then it will lead to strife in society. “The Maratha community is demanding its rights and it must get it. Without disturbing the reservations of Adivasis and other communities, Marathas, Dhangars must be provided reservations,” he said.
Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis urged those around Patil to take care of his health. “Life is important. Doctors have been stationed at the site. The chief minister has assured reservation to the Maratha community,” he said.
Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction)’s Shambhuraje Desai said Thackeray must answer who is responsible for the Supreme Court rejecting the reservation to the Maratha community.
On Sunday, NCP leaders (Sharad Pawar faction) met Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais and submitted a representation on the increasing tensions in the state on account of the ongoing fast of Jarange Patil and the daily incidents of suicide. A delegation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi will meet the governor on Monday.
Lok Sabha MP and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sunil Tatkare in Thane said he had traced the history of reservations given to Marathas and the issues it faced in the judiciary, and the state government wanted to grant a legally sustainable reservation.
Across the state various Maratha organisations held demonstrations in support of Jarange Patil's demand for reservation for the community. Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MP from Hingoli submitted his resignation to agitators in his constituency.
