Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil has called on Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to rein in his party colleague and minister Chhagan Bhujbal, warning of retaliation if Bhujbal persists in targeting him. At a rally in Ahmednagar, Jarange-Patil expressed frustration over the damage to Maratha community boards, emphasizing the need for both Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to ensure Bhujbal follows the law.
“I have heard that Ajit Pawar at a meeting told his MLAs and ministers not to say anything that will lead to caste tension. I was keeping quiet, but our board in Yeola was damaged. Then, how will I keep quiet? I want to tell Ajit Pawar that if he (Bhujbal) does not keep quiet, I will also hit back,” warned Jarange-Patil.
“I want to say the same thing to both Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis… Not just we, he (Bhujbal) also should follow the law. He should be asked to stop damaging the boards our people are putting up,” he added.
Jarange-Patil and Bhujbal have been at odds since the latter targeted the activist a week ago at an OBC rally in Ambad in Jalna district. Initially refraining from personal attacks, Jarange-Patil has since targeted Bhujbal at subsequent rallies in Thane, Nashik, and Ahmednagar.
Despite purported warnings from Ajit Pawar, Jarange-Patil claimed, “Despite that, the boards put up by the Maratha community were torn. I do not know what kind of reprimand this was…Was it to ask Bhujbal to keep quiet or rip boards apart?”
Such actions, according to Jarange-Patil, were aimed at provoking the Maratha community. However, he urged the community to exercise restraint and patience, affirming their reservation process is underway, and the government is actively processing Kunbi records. He asserted, “Reservation will be ours soon.
