'Won't Enter Mumbai Today But...': Marathas To Stay in Vashi, Place New Demands

Thousands of Maratha protesters who are gathered in Navi Mumbai will not enter Mumbai as planned earlier but will stay put in Vashi for the night, reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil said on Friday, 26 January, as he read out a fresh set of demands after meeting the government-appointed law panel.

Jarange demanded that the government should bring in an ordinance by Friday night, stating that the family members of all those who will receive Kunbi caste certificates under the state government's ongoing exercise will also be entitled to nominations based on those certificates.

"Do whatever you want, but give us the ordinance by tonight. We will respect the pious day of 26 January, so we won't go to Azad Maidan yet. We will stay here tonight if needed but we won't leave after coming this close to Mumbai. I respect the government and the administration. All I want is the ordinance. If it does not come tonight, we will go to Azad Maidan tomorrow," Jarange said while addressing his supporters.

The Jarange-led march, that is in demand of reservation for the Maratha community, was enroute to Mumbai's Azad Maidan, where Jarange was to go on a hunger strike.

Jarange Places Fresh Demands Before Shinde Govt

Earlier on Friday, the Maharashtra government initiated talks with Jarange and agreed to some of his key demands in an attempt to not let the march enter Mumbai.

A meeting of the government's law panel took place with Jarange, ahead of which the state government reportedly agreed to one of his key demands to also issue Kunbi caste certificates to the maternal side of the family.

Issuing Kunbi certificates will ensure reservation to the Maratha community under the OBC category.

Some of the new demands of Jarange include:

• Provide data of all 37 lakh people who have been nominated, so far, for caste certificates, as per the state government's ongoing exercise

• The tenure of the Shinde Committee undertaking the exercise should be extended by a year.

• Bring in an ordinance by Friday night, assuring that family members of all the nominees will get their nominations too.

• Registration for the nominations should be free.

• Entire education for all Marathas should be free till the reservation issue is resolved.

• No government posts should be filled till Marathas get reservation. If the government is to fill any vacancies before that, the posts for Marathas should be kept aside

• All cases against protesters, including those filed in Jalna's Antarvali Sarati last year, should be withdrawn and the same should be given in writing.

Most protesters, meanwhile, said that the government has only been making promises but no concrete moves have been taken to give reservation to the Maratha community so far.

Speaking to the demonstrators briefly, Jarange had earlier said that he "already began his hunger strike at 11:00 am today."

'Demands Accepted, No Need To Enter Mumbai': Maharashtra Govt

The Mumbai Police has denied permission for Jarange or for any gathering at Mumbai's Azad Maidan.

The government, instead, has offered Jarange to let him continue his protest at a venue in Kharghar. Meanwhile, several protesters from the community have already gathered at Azad Maidan to welcome Jarange. Some protesters had also resorted to 'chakka jaam' near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) station, but were removed by the police.

Speaking to the media in Nagpur on the sidelines of Republic Day celebrations, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that everybody has a right to protest, but it should be done peacefully.

"Firstly, the SC has given certain directions (to the Maharashtra government). Everybody has the right to protest but the demonstrations should be peaceful is what the apex court has ordered. Simultaneously, there will be talks to resolve all issues under the guidance of the chief minister," Fadnavis said.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Shiv Sena leader and state Cabinet Minister Milind Narwekar said that all of Jarange's demands have been accepted by the state government and that there was no reason for the protesters to enter the city.

"Republic Day is a pious day. There are children celebrating everywhere. All his demands have been accepted so there is no reason to protest in Mumbai anymore," Narwekar said.

The agitation comes even as the state government has announced a deadline of 31 January on the Maharashtra State Commission for Backward Classes to complete its survey that's meant to determine the social and financial status of the Maratha community.