How Did CM Fadnavis Navigate the Jarange-Patil Protest?

Mumbai, Sep 5 (NationPress) The Shiv Sena (UBT) has expressed admiration for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for adeptly managing the five-day demonstration led by pro-Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil, who was advocating for reservation for the Maratha community under the OBC quota. Jarange-Patil played a crucial role in negotiating with the state government, ultimately reaching an agreement and concluding his hunger strike.

In the party's publication, 'Saamana', the Thackeray camp stated, “The Chief Minister deserves as much credit for the Maratha reservation movement as does Jarange-Patil. He has successfully found a resolution, bringing the agitation to a satisfactory conclusion.”

The move by Shiv Sena (UBT) to commend CM Fadnavis has generated significant discussion in the state’s political arena, particularly given that the party has previously criticized him on various matters.

“Jarange-Patil came to Mumbai and conducted a hunger strike concerning the Maratha reservation issue, achieving success in his efforts. Meanwhile, CM Fadnavis managed the Maratha agitation with remarkable restraint. He faced numerous criticisms without faltering and ultimately accepted all feasible demands, enabling Jarange-Patil and his supporters to return home,” the editorial noted.

“Jarange-Patil risked his life for the Maratha reservation. He is undoubtedly a principled individual. Had he not taken a firm stand, the Maratha community would not have gained anything. Thus, while Jarange-Patil deserves recognition, so does the Chief Minister who resolved the impasse,” the piece continued.

The article in 'Saamana' also highlighted that, following a High Court ultimatum for Jarange-Patil to vacate Mumbai, the situation became critical. Any resistance from his supporters could have resulted in contempt of court and further legal complications. CM Fadnavis acted swiftly, accommodating most of the protesters' demands. Ultimately, the Chief Minister is the government; no matter how influential the ministers may be, governance operates under his direction.

The Thackeray camp also remarked that this should not diminish the significance of Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. “While we recognize Deputy CM Shinde as a decent individual, Jarange-Patil has previously made inflammatory remarks about CM Fadnavis. In these instances, the Chief Minister became a target of criticism while others were deemed 'good,' which is perplexing,” they stated.

The mouthpiece clarified that the demand for Maratha reservation pertains to educational and employment opportunities in Maharashtra for the Maratha community under the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) designation. The movement aims to either classify the Maratha community within the OBC category or secure a distinct quota. This demand was first voiced by the late Annasaheb Patil in the 1980s, with the inaugural march taking place in Mumbai in 1982. The grassroots movement began in 1997, with notable support from Sharad Pawar and Vilasrao Deshmukh during 2008-09.

According to the Thackeray camp, many families within the Maratha community rely on agriculture, and the push for reservation stems from economic hardships and a concerning rate of farmer suicides (94% among Maratha farmers). Pro-Maratha quota advocates have pointed to the under-representation of the Maratha community in education and government roles, emphasizing that the lack of development in Marathwada and Vidarbha has left the youth with limited career options other than government employment.