Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has extended a personal invitation to Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil, calling him her “brother” amid his continuing agitation over the community’s demand for OBC quota benefits.
Speaking to reporters in Nagpur on Wednesday evening, Amruta Fadnavis said she would welcome Jarange Patil to her home for a meal.
“Jarange Patil ji is my brother and I invite him to come for a meal at our home,” she said.
Her remarks come as Jarange continues his protest at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district, where he has been agitating for reservation for the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes category.
The activist is also seeking implementation of historical records associated with the Hyderabad and Satara Gazettes and the issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to eligible members of the Maratha community.
The agitation has put renewed political focus on the long-running Maratha reservation issue, with the state government attempting to address the demands while remaining within constitutional and legal limits.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said on Tuesday that his government would take whatever steps were legally and constitutionally possible to address the issue. At the same time, he made it clear that the government would not reduce another community’s existing share of reservation to accommodate the Maratha demand.
Fadnavis also stressed that the government had kept communication channels open and that a solution to the issue would have to emerge through discussions.
Against this backdrop, Amruta Fadnavis’s remarks about Jarange add a personal dimension to the ongoing political debate. Her invitation comes while the activist remains firm on his demands and continues to press the government for action.
Separately, Amruta Fadnavis also spoke about the upcoming Navratri celebrations and the debate over participation in garba and dandiya events.
She described Navratri and garba as opportunities to showcase Hindu culture to a wider audience and said festivals could remain inclusive. She also said there was nothing wrong with Muslims attending such celebrations.
Her comments came amid a controversy over calls to restrict Muslim participation at Navratri events in Maharashtra. The Vishva Hindu Parishad had recently announced that Muslims would not be permitted to enter garba and dandiya venues during the festival, while BJP leader and Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane had supported the position.
Navratri celebrations in Maharashtra are scheduled to begin on October 11, with the participation issue adding another political and social debate ahead of the festival.
For now, however, the focus remains on Jarange’s continuing Maratha quota agitation and the state government’s efforts to find a solution without violating constitutional provisions or affecting the reservation rights of other communities.
