Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra ministers Sandipan Bhumre and Atul Save on Saturday met Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange and handed him a copy of a document extending the scope of the Shinde Committee formed to study the feasibility of giving Kunbi certificates to community members. Among the demands of Jarange is that Marathas be given Kunbi certificates so that they can get reservation under the Other Backward Classes segment. The Eknath Shinde government had appointed a committee under retired judge Sandeep Shinde to study this demand and how it can be implemented. “The Shinde committee’s scope has been extended from Marathwada to all of Maharashtra,” Bhumre told reporters after meeting Jarange, who broke his hunger strike on November 2 after starting it on October 25 in Jalna, and is recuperating in a private hospital.
Bhumre also brushed aside a query by reporters on whether the deadline given by Jarange to the state government for implementation of Maratha quota is December 24 or January 2.
“It is just a matter of a few days and doesn’t make much of a difference. Maybe, the (quota) issue will be resolved prior to that,” Bhumre said. Speaking on the issue, Jarange said, “It is good Marathas across the state will get Kunbi certificates. Our chain hunger strikes are on and we will not stop till we get reservation.”
Meanwhile, former Rajya Sabha MP Sambhaji Chhatrapati also met Jarange during the day and said his aim was to give strength to the latter.
Chhatrapati also said the government was working on fulfilling the demands and must be given time.
