The discussions concerning Maratha reservation in Maharashtra continue to escalate. Manoj Jarange Patil, who is currently on a hunger strike, has announced that he will abstain from water starting September 1st. Ministers Chandrakant Patil and Nitesh Rane are proposing that the Maratha community should consider utilizing the existing EWS quota, rather than being incorporated into the OBC category. There are also discussions about increasing the scope of the EWS quota. Nitesh Rane has accused NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar of providing financial support for Jarange’s protests, and BJP leader Keshav Upadhyay has claimed that some within the opposition MVA are attempting to exploit the Maratha reservation issue. Jarange has been fasting at Azad Maidan in Mumbai since Friday, seeking a 10% reservation for Marathas and their recognition as Kunbi, which would provide them with access to government jobs and educational opportunities through the reservation system. OBC leaders are opposing this. Nitesh Rane stated that the demand for inclusion in the OBC category is unlikely to be met. If Jarange restricts his demand to Marathwada, the government might consider it. He emphasized the distinct identities of Marathas and Kunbis in the Konkan region. According to Rane, the state government has already enacted legislation that provides a 10% reservation for the community through the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) for education and government positions, along with other financial assistance. If there’s a push to expand the reservation, the government is open to discussing it. Chandrakant Patil indicated that Marathas never faced untouchability and are not caste-based backward, but the decrease in land ownership has led to economic challenges. The fundamental problem began when agricultural income declined, making it difficult for Maratha families to provide their children with higher education. As a result, they are seeking reservation in education and employment. The central government’s Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) reservation, already upheld by the Supreme Court, offers a possible pathway for support. The EWS was introduced in 2019 by the central government to provide reservations in education and government jobs to individuals from the general category, based on financial criteria. This was facilitated by the 103rd amendment to the Constitution. Families with an annual income below ₹8 lakh are eligible.
