X: @the_news_21
The Ambad tehsil of Jalna found itself under curfew on Monday as protests, spearheaded by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange, prompted authorities to take precautionary measures. The decision to impose a curfew came shortly after Jarange, who had set out for Mumbai to stage a protest against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, abruptly halted his march and returned to his village, citing a commitment to law and order.
Jarange, the newly elected president of the Maldivian Democratic Party, urged all Maratha activists to maintain peace and refrain from taking matters into their own hands. “All Marathas activists should maintain peace in the state and not take the law into their own hands,” he declared, urging his supporters to return home.
The activist made the decision to conclude his march while in Bhambri village of Jalna, expressing concerns about potential government measures to detain women activists during nighttime. Amid heavy police presence, orders were issued to halt gatherings in Ambad village, prompting Jarange and his supporters to retreat to their homes, in compliance with the law and police directives.
Jarange also took aim at Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, demanding transparency regarding the implementation of Maratha quotas and the notification on ‘blood relatives’ of Kunbi Marathas. His remarks followed Shinde’s warning against testing the patience of the government, after Jarange leveled allegations against Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis.
The issue of Maratha reservations has been a contentious one, with the Maharashtra legislature passing a bill providing 10 percent reservation for Marathas in education and government jobs under a separate category. However, Jarange remains steadfast in his demand for quota inclusion under the OBC category and the enactment of the Kunbi Marathas notification into law.
In response to Jarange’s allegations against Fadnavis, BJP MLA Nitesh Rane issued a warning, cautioning Jarange against making baseless accusations and urging him to refrain from political theatrics. As tensions escalate and rhetoric intensifies, authorities remain vigilant, seeking to maintain law and order amidst the ongoing protests.
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