Hingoli: “The Maratha community has been demanding reservation for the past several years. However, the government has not taken the demand seriously. The community has not gained justice due to the autocratic attitude of the government. Despite several meetings, there has been no decision on the issue of reservation. Hence, an agitation was organised at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on August 29. We will return from Mumbai only after gaining a reservation,” said Maratha reservation agitation leader Manoj Jarange Patil.

He was speaking during a meeting held at Madhurdeep Palace in Hingoli city on Saturday. He said that they are firm on their demand and will return only after getting a reservation, or else they will continue the agitation in Mumbai. The agitation was organised in Mumbai on August 29. Preparations for the agitation have started all over the state, and meetings to create awareness among the people are being organised. The meeting in Hingoli was also part of these preparations.

He continued saying that the OBC community also think that the Maratha community should get justice. However, some OBC political leaders are playing politics on this issue. The government has more than 58 lakh records of Maratha-Kunbi evidence. The Maratha community has initiated an agitation for the past two years and is still waiting for a reservation.

The agitators will reach Mumbai peacefully and will press their demand for reservations. If the government attempts to instigate riots, they will not let it happen. The march for Mumbai will start from Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district on August 27 and will reach Mumbai on August 29. If the government tries to put pressure on any of the agitators, then no political leader can move about in the state safely. “We will not return without reservation,” Jarange said.