Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil on Wednesday urged Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange to call off his proposed agitation in Mumbai during the ongoing Ganeshotsav 2026, saying the issues can be resolved through dialogue and discussion, reported the PTI.
Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who heads the state government's cabinet sub-committee on the Maratha reservation issue, said there was no plan to use force to stop the proposed agitation.
“There is absolutely no plan to use force to stop the agitation. The issue can be resolved through dialogue and discussion,” he said, adding that the government was speaking to people who had studied the reservation issue, the news agency reported.
Vikhe Patil said the government was ready to hold discussions with the Maratha community and its representatives whenever required.
He also referred to criticism of former chief minister Eknath Shinde by sections of the community. Some members have said they felt Shinde had betrayed their trust over the reservation issue.
Vikhe Patil said the community should put such feelings aside, while pointing to initiatives taken by the state government on the issue.
Minister cites steps taken on reservation
The minister claimed that around 5,500 children were given an opportunity at a time when the government faced the possibility of contempt of court proceedings. He also referred to the initiation of the SEBC process.
“Many things were done. I don't think the community gains anything by feeling that it has been betrayed,” Vikhe Patil said.
He said the government had introduced several schemes while taking into account the sentiments of the Maratha community and had not closed the door on future discussions.
Appeal made over Ganeshotsav
Vikhe Patil's appeal came as Jarange continued his march towards Mumbai while on hunger strike.
The minister said the government did not want devotees to face inconvenience during Ganeshotsav, particularly as people would be travelling between Pune and Mumbai during the festival.
“Our only expectation is that devotees should not face inconvenience during Ganeshotsav,” he said, adding that the government did not want any untoward incident to take place.
He appealed to Jarange to stop the agitation in view of the ongoing festival.
Jarange continues march towards Mumbai
Jarange's hunger strike entered its 19th day on Wednesday. He reached Patoda in Beed district at around 11 am, nearly 14 hours after leaving Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district.
He is scheduled to reach Mumbai on September 19 after passing through Ahilyanagar, Pune and Khopoli in Raigad district. Jarange has announced plans for an indefinite hunger strike in Mumbai over Maratha reservation. Mumbai Police have denied permission for the proposed protest at Azad Maidan, citing concerns including crowd management, public safety, traffic disruption and the Ganesh festival.
Government raises concerns over festival disruption
The proposed agitation has become a point of concern for the state government because it coincides with Ganeshotsav.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday that maintaining law and order was the responsibility of the police and questioned the need to hold the agitation during the festival.
(with PTI inputs)
* This article was originally published here
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