Jarange warns of fresh agitation from May 30 over Maratha quota

Jarange urged community experts and scholars to gather at Antarwali Sarati on May 28 to discuss the state government's policy that bars reserved-category candidates from claiming open-category seats.

The state cabinet approved a policy stating that candidates from reserved categories who avail concessions in competitive examinations will not be eligible to claim appointment against open-category posts. Jarange criticized the decision, saying it was taken after reserved-category seats had already been allocated, and noted the government's claim that OBCs cannot claim open-category seats as part of this policy.

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange announced an indefinite hunger strike from May 30 and set a May 29 deadline for the distribution of Kunbi caste certificates in Marathwada. He called for dissolution of the Maratha quota sub-committee, pressed for a separate ministry for the Maratha and Kunbi communities, and claimed that the state government has halted issuing Kunbi certificates to Marathas. He alleged certificates issued under the Hyderabad gazette were inconsistently issued and that officials have been instructed not to issue them. He demanded the immediate implementation of the Satara and Aundh gazettes, validation of already issued certificates, and the dropping of police cases against protesters. He stated the Satara gazette has not been implemented even eight months after its announcement and warned of agitation from May 30 if the deadline is not met. He reiterated the demand to recognize all Marathas as Kunbis, an OBC agrarian group eligible for reservations.