Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange's security hiked

Mumbai: To strengthen the security provided to the Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange, the state government added four more armed personnel to the security team, Maharashtra minister Shambhuraj Desai informed the Assembly on Thursday, PTI reported.

Speaking about allegations of a drone being used for surveillance of Jarange's home, he said police had visited Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district.

Three teams have been formed by the local superintendent of police to probe the case. The issue of drone surveillance was raised by Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar on Tuesday.

A week ago, Jarange stated Muslims holding Kunbi caste certificates should also be granted reservations in government jobs and education under the Other Backward Class (OBC) quota in Maharashtra, reported the Hindustan Times.

“There are government records that show that the Muslims are also part of Kunbi castes,” the newspaper quoted Jarange-Patil as saying. “When these records prove that they are also farmers and belong to the Kunbi community, then Muslims should al"o be given reservation from the OBC quota.”

The Kunbis, a sub-caste within the Maratha community, are already recognized as Other Backward Classes. The activist highlighted that Muslims should not be subjected to injustice, using the example of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Pasha Patel, whom Jarange-Patil claims has records indicating he is a Kunbi.

“If there are such records, then all Muslims should get reservations from the OBC quota,” Jarange-Patil demanded. “I will see how they don’t get their rights." Over the past year, Jarange-Patil has led an agitation, including holding hunger strikes, to demand reservations for Marathas in government jobs and educational institutes.