Vikhe Patil to meet Jarange, says govt’s stand on Maratha quota not reaching activist properly

Pune: State minister and chairman of the cabinet sub-committee on the Maratha reservation issue, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, on Friday claimed that correct information about the steps being taken by the govt on the quota issue is not reaching activist Manoj Jarange.

He said he would meet Jarange in the coming days to persuade him not to launch a fresh agitation.

Jarange recently held a meeting with his supporters at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, where he alleged that the govt had failed to fulfil its promises regarding reservation for the Maratha community. He also announced a statewide agitation against the govt from May 30.

State govt has since been trying to convince Jarange to withdraw the agitation call. Speaking to reporters in Ahilyanagar, Vikhe Patil said the govt remained committed to resolving the Maratha reservation issue and was taking steps in the right direction.

“Our govt is positive about the Maratha reservation issue, and we are moving in the right direction for its implementation. However, there appears to be some discrepancy in the information reaching Jarange from the govt side, because of which he may feel that the promises are not being fulfilled,” Vikhe Patil said.

“To avoid any further misunderstanding or miscommunication, I will be meeting Jarange in the next few days and will hold discussions with him,” he added.

Recently, BJP MLA Prasad Lad had also visited Antarwali Sarati and held a meeting with Jarange on the reservation issue.

Meanwhile, OBC activists have objected to govt representatives meeting Jarange over the issue. OBC activist Laxman Hake criticised the move and questioned Lad’s involvement in the matter.

“Prasad Lad has no detailed knowledge of the reservation issue, so why is he interfering in such a serious matter and meeting Jarange as a representative of the govt? Jarange’s demands are anti-OBC, and therefore we are urging the govt not to entertain him anymore,” Hake said.