‘Act on Kunbi Maratha draft or face protests from Feb 24’

Jalna: Activist Manoj Jarange on Wednesday said the Maharashtra government should implement the draft notification on ‘blood relatives’ of Kunbi Marathas within two days, failing which the community members would stage non-violent road blockades across the state from February 24. Speaking at a meet of the Maratha community members at Antarwali sarti village in Jalna district, where he has been on a hunger strike since February 10, Jarange insisted on peaceful demonstrations and not resorting to violence during the protests.

Earlier in the day, the activist told reporters that the bill providing 10 per cent reservation to the Maratha community would not stand legal scrutiny and reiterated his demand that the Maharashtra government’s draft notification on “sage soyare”, or blood relatives, of Kunbi Marathas be converted into a law.

He later appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take a serious note of the matter and not hold the (upcoming Lok Sabha) elections until the reservation issue is addressed.