Maratha

Gamble or gambit? BJP-led Mahayuti cobbling up non-Maratha caste coalition

The 2024 Lok Sabha polls saw sharp polarisation of Maratha and OBC votes across Maharashtra, particularly in Marathwada, where the BJP-led alliance could win only one of the eight seats

Maratha quota: Jarange plans show of unity at Dussehra rally in Beed

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Monday appealed to the people, including the poor and needy, to converge in a show of unity at the Dussehra rally to be held at Narayangad in Maharashtra's Beed district. Dussehra will be celebrated on October 12 this year. Jarange also said he will speak at the rally, which would be attended by the Maratha community people and farmers, but there will no politics at the event. He was speaking to reporters at a private hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar where he is currently undergoing treatment after ending his fast over the demand for OBC quota for the Maratha community. Jarange sat on a hunger strike on September 17, his sixth in a year, to demand reservation to the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. He called it off on September 25, citing pleas from members of the Maratha community to withdraw his protest. In February this year, the Maharashtra legislature unanimously passed a bill providing 10 per cen

Cheating case: Maratha quota activist Jarange moves court seeking discharge

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange has filed an application before a court in Pune through his lawyer seeking discharge in a cheating case. A case under Indian Penal Code section 420 (cheating) and 406 (criminal breach of trust) was registered against Jarange and two others over a monetary dispute related to organising a Marathi play in 2013. The court had issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Jarange in July. The NBW was cancelled in August after Jarange appeared before the judicial magistrate (first class). "We have filed an application in the court seeking discharge as there is no prima facie case against Jarange. Sections invoked against him are also not applicable," Jarange's lawyers Harshad Nimbalkar and Shivam Nimbalkar told PTI on Tuesday. The order issued by the court directing police to register a case against Jarange in 2013 was faulty and illegal, Harshad Nimbalkar said. The court has suggested a compromise noting that the complainant was not alive, Nimbalkar .

BJP leader challenges Jarange to field 288 Maratha candidates in polls

After activist Manoj Jarange asked the Marathas to prepare for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, BJP leader and former Union Minister Raosaheb Danve challenged him to field 288 Maratha candidates in the polls if he was not satisfied with the reservation granted to his community. Addressing a press conference on Tuesday evening, he said the state government has already provided 10 per cent reservation to the Maratha community. "As per the law, we have given the reservation. But if Jarange is not satisfied, he should field his own candidates in all 288 assembly constituencies in the state," Danve said. Speaking at his native Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district on Tuesday, Jarange asked the Maratha community to get ready to contest the upcoming assembly polls, saying it has no option but to get political power if it wants reservation in government jobs and education. Expressing confidence that Marathas would come to power in the state after the elections due in ...

Maha govt seeks Maratha quota consensus at all-party meet, MVA boycotts

The Maharashtra government on Tuesday pushed for evolving a consensus on reservation in jobs and education for Marathas at an all-party meeting here and asserted that while resolving the emotive issue, the existing quota of other communities will not be disturbed. The all-party meeting on the Maratha reservation issue convened in the evening was boycotted by the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). It was convened ahead of the assembly polls due in October and days before the end of a deadline set by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange for the state government to accept the community's demands, including quota under the OBC category. A statement released by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) late in the night quoted CM Eknath Shinde as saying that the issue of reservation for the Maratha community and OBCs can be resolved only through talks. Shinde emphasised the state government was committed to ensure that the 10 per cent reservation given to the Maratha community under a ...

Govt trying to create rift between Maratha, OBC communities, says Jarange

Activist Manoj Jarange on Friday accused the Maharashtra government of trying to create tension between the Maratha and OBC communities, vowing that he won't let it happen. The 41-year-old activist was speaking to the Marathi news channel ABP Maza after his discharge from a hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. He said there are 8-9 people in the government who have "hatred" for the Maratha community and their names will reach the public domain at the right time. The government is thrusting new leaders to the fore and moving others aside to create a rift between the Maratha and OBC communities, he said, stressing that those protesting over their demand for non-dilution of the OBC quota are not at fault. OBC activists Laxman Hake and Navnath Waghmre have been fasting in the Jalna district since June 13 demanding that the government scrap the draft notification that recognises Kunbis as sage soyare (blood relatives) of Maratha community members. The agrarian Kunbi community enjoys O

Cong to face consequences in state poll for opposing Marathas: Jarange

Quota activist Manoj Jarange on Monday claimed the Congress was speaking against the interests of the Maratha community and would face consequences in the Maharashtra assembly polls due later this year. Speaking to reporters on the third day of his indefinite fast at Antarwali Sarathi village in Jalna, Jarange reiterated his demand for implementation of the draft notification that recognises Kunbis as "sage soyare" (blood relatives) of Maratha community members and sought a law to identify Kunbis as Marathas. Newly-elected Congress MP from Jalna, Kalyan Kale, visited the village and met Jarange on Monday. Kunbi, an agrarian group, falls under the Other Backward Class (OBC) category, and Jarange has been demanding that Kunbi certificates be issued to all Marathas, thus making them eligible for quota benefits. In February this year, the Maharashtra legislature unanimously passed a bill providing 10 per cent reservation for the Marathas in education and government jobs under a separat

Maratha community should select LS candidates before Mar 30: Jarange

Quota activist Manoj Jarange on Sunday appealed to the Maratha community to choose candidates for contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as independents before March 30. The Maratha community holds sway over 17-18 Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra, he claimed. With their influence, they can garner the support of not only Muslims and Dalit communities but also wider section of the society, Jarange said addressing a meeting of the Maratha community members, who had come from across the state, at his native Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district. Elections to the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra will be held in five phases on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13 and May 20 and votes will be counted on June 4. "I don't know politics and am not interested in it," Jarange said. He said the Maratha community members such choose candidates, irrespective of caste and religion and those not belonging to any political party, before March 30. A decision on fielding them as independe

Maratha quota: Draft notification not final, leaders can submit objections

Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule has said the draft notification on grant of Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas was not final, and leaders from the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) can submit their objections. Talking to reporters in Sangli on Tuesday, Bawankule also said the state government was positive about granting reservation to the Maratha community and steps taken by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde were appropriate. The draft notification, which the government came out with following activist Manoj Jarange's agitation, has led to OBC leaders including state minister Chhagan Bhujbal to express apprehension that it would facilitate backdoor entry of the Marathas in the OBC category. "The state government has sought suggestions and objections on the draft notification regarding 'sage soyare' (blood relatives), so this notification is not final. If the OBC leaders and others feel there would be injustice, they can convey their objections, and the final decision wil

Maratha quota activist Jarange calls off his protest over reservation issue

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Saturday said he has called off his protest over the reservation issue, saying the Maharashtra government has accepted all the demands. He expressed satisfaction that the government has issued a notification to issue Kunbi caste certificates to all relatives of the Marathas whose records (linked to Kunbi caste) have been found. He made the announcement at Vashi in neighbouring Navi Mumbai, where he camped overnight with thousands of supporters after reaching the place on Friday morning. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is set to meet Jarange. Both of them are likely to address the people present there. Jarange on Friday made a fresh demand that the government amend its free education policy to include all Marathas until the benefit of reservation becomes available for the entire community. He has sought data of the 37 lakh Kunbi certificates issued by the state government. Kunbi, an agrarian community, falls in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) .

Govt sanctions Rs 172.87 cr for Maratha students' hostel in Latur

The Maharashtra government has sanctioned Rs 172.87 crore for the construction of a hostel and other educational facilities for students belonging to the Maratha community in Latur, an official said on Sunday. As per an official release, a well-equipped hostel with all the facilities for students of the Maratha community will be set up in the city by the ' SAARTHI' institute. Funds to the tune of Rs 172.87 crore have been sanctioned to the divisional office of 'SAARTHI' for the construction of a reading room, library, training institute and hostel, it stated. The tender process for the project is underway and the actual work will begin soon, the official said. The hostel, library and reading room facilities will help Maratha students from Latur and other districts of Marathwada, the release quoting state Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Sanjay Bansode said.

OBC quota will not be diluted while giving Maratha reservation: CM Shinde

The reservation of Other Backward Classes (OBC) will not be touched while giving quota to the Maratha community, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Friday. During the day, CM Shinde held a meeting with representatives of the OBC and Nomadic Tribes at Sahyadri Guest House. It was attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar as well as senior ministers and officials. Representatives from these segments put forth their demand in the meeting. "The government's stand is quota of any community will not be diluted. While giving reservation to the Maratha community, the quota of other communities will remain unaffected," Shinde said. He added that the government stands firmly behind those from the Nomadic Tribes. Shinde said officials have been directed to start 72 hostels for OBC students. Fadnavis said implementation of schemes of Rs 4,000 crore is being done. Pawar, who handles the Finance department in the Shinde government, said the NT community

Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Punyatithi: History, date, thoughts and more

Sambhaji Maharaj Punyatithi was on 11th March, the eldest son of Shivaji Maharaj and the founder of Maratha Empire was killed by Mughals

Uddhav announces Sena's alliance with Maratha outfit Sambhaji Brigade

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Friday announced the party's alliance with the Maratha outfit Sambhaji Brigade. The development came as the Thackeray-led party is reeling under the impact of Eknath Shinde's rebellion and the loss of power in Maharashtra. Talking to reporters here, Thackeray said the alliance with Sambhaji Brigade was ideological and forged to uphold the Constitution and also regional pride. He slammed the BJP for not adhering to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) ideology and said the Sambhaji Brigade comprises people who fight for ideology. Thackeray also denied the allegation that he had called Chief Minister Eknath Shinde "contract CM". He will be touring the state around Dussehra and is currently focusing on building the organisation, the Sena chief said. Over the last two months, he had been contacted by many parties which had ideological affinity with the Sena and even the ones which were its polar opposite, he said. These parties wished to c

RBI cancels Rupee Co-operative's licence; lender to cease business Sep 22

More than 99% of depositors of Pune-based lender to receive the full amount, says regulator

After SC setback, Maharashtra govt extends EWS quota to Marathas

The SC had, on May 5, struck down a state law that granted reservations in jobs and education to the Maratha community.

How India can be great again

Book review of Making India Great Again: Learning from our History

Marathas raise societal divide concerns

Hint that their stir will continue till demands for quota are met

Maratha 'silent march' reaches Mumbai's doorsteps in Thane

Participants, carrying saffron flags and several placards for their demands, and children and elders dressed as Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji

Maratha 'silent march' in Nagpur on Oct 25, Kunbis excluded

Clubbing and naming the banner as Maratha-Kunbi Samaj March is apparently the point of discord between the two factions