Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Monday September 30, 2024 requested all classes of the society, especially the poor and the needy to join the people and identity march in support at the Dussehra rally to be held in Narayangad, Beed district of Maharashtra. This year Dussehra will be observed on 12 October.
Mr. Jarange also asserted that he is going to make an address during the rally which is going to be comprised of Maratha people and farmers but the event would be free of politics.
He was addressing the members of the press in a private Hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar where further treatment is being carried out after breaking his fast regarding the OBC quota for the Marathas.
Mr. Jarange sat on a hunger strike on September 17, his sixth strike in a series of agitations over one year, demanding the government bring them under the reservation policy of OBCs.
He called it off on 25th September 2019 stating that the Maratha people prevailing on him to stop his agitation.
The Bill which extends 10% reservation to the Marathas in education and government jobs under special category was passed by the Maharashtra legislature with no opposing voice in February this year. Mr. Jarange, however, stuck to his demand for a quota for the community under the OBC head.
“There will be a Dussehra rally in Narayangad which I will attend as a believer and stay throughout the programme. I will also take the blessings of the people of my community visiting Narayangad. Narayangad should be attended rather on Dussehra by those from Beed and Marathwada and those who have gone out for work,” Mr. Jarange said.
“It is now time to demonstrate our oneness. People from each part of this State must visit Narayangad,” he was quoted. Mr. Jarange said that he will also deliver a speech regarding the rally but said that there is nothing political which will take place at the function.
“There is a opportunity to display our oneness. There will be no theory of caste and politics there ( at the rally ). There comes a proper moment that the oneness has to be shown. This should be the moment that all those from the poor society, all the needy come up to display their oneness. Thus, the farmers from maratha community will come to Narayangad,” he added.
