Maratha quota stir: Manoj Jarange-Patil widens demands, camps near Mumbai

Navi Mumbai: The ongoing Maratha reservation stir got more complex on Friday as the chief campaigner Manoj Jarange-Patil gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the state government to address the concerns, including a new demand of halting the recruitment process till the Supreme Court decides on the curative petition. 

The new demand includes free education for Maratha boys on the lines of free KG-to-PG education for girl children. 

Jarange-Patil would stay put in Navi Mumbai overnight and give time to the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP dispensation till 12 PM on Saturday to clear the demands else he would march to the historic Azad Maidan in Mumbai. 

Jarange-Patil has stopped taking food from 11 AM on Friday, however, he is drinking water at regular intervals.

At the time of going to press, top state government officials and emissaries of Shinde are holding talks with Jarange-Patil and are hopeful for a solution over the weekend.

"We are amidst Republic Day celebrations and since it is an important day, I won't be entering Mumbai now. Hence, I would stay put in Navi Mumbai. The government has time till midnight, rather take some time and convey us by 12 PM and issue the necessary GR,” he said amid thunderous applause.

“I respect the government, the administration and the police. All I want is the ordinance. If it does not come tonight, we will go to Azad Maidan tomorrow," Jarange said.

“So far, 54 lakh Kunbi-Maratha and Maratha-Kunbi records have been found during the scrutiny over the months. The government says that 37  lakh certificates have been issued. The government must give us the details,” Jarange-Patil said. 

Blood relatives of 54 lakh Marathas with Kunbi antecedents should be issued certificates, he demanded. 

“All the criminal cases registered against them during protests held for Maratha reservation in the past,” he said, adding that while there has been a verbal assurance he wants to see it in black and white.