15 September,2026 11:15 AM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondent
Manoj Jarange. File Pic
Maharashtra Minister Ashish Jaiswal on Tuesday accused Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders of spreading false information and creating confusion over the Maratha quota issue, saying the state government has followed constitutional provisions and established legal procedures while addressing the community's demands.
Jaiswal was responding to Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil's ultimatum to the state government. He said the process for issuing and validating caste certificates is governed by rules and court judgments and that the existing system should be followed.
"Our country and our state are governed according to the Indian Constitution. There are various systems in place, along with different rulings from the High Courts and the Supreme Court. Based on these rulings, there are established rules regarding who can issue caste certificates, the standard operating procedures, their validity, and the courts involved. All these systems are already in place," Jaiswal told reporters.
Jaiswal alleged that opposition leaders were spreading false information about the government's handling of the Maratha reservation issue.
"Yet, people are spreading false rumours against the government. The Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders are creating this kind of chaos against a government that has actually given the Maratha community the justice that the Aghadi never did," he said.
He also accused opposition leaders of making irresponsible statements that, according to him, were harming Maharashtra's image.
"By making irresponsible statements that do not suit Maharashtra's culture, they are damaging the image of the state. Honestly, it appears to me that they have been rattled. They are doing all this out of prejudice and sheer malice," Jaiswal said.
He added that people in the state were aware of the developments and criticised Jarange Patil's proposed agitation.
"The Maratha community and the people of Maharashtra understand this. That is why I feel it is simply not right for Jarange Patil to continue trying to create chaos in the state," he said.
Jarange Patil had on Sunday issued an eight-day ultimatum to the Maharashtra government, warning that he would begin an indefinite hunger strike at Mumbai's Azad Maidan on September 19 if the Maratha community's reservation demands were not addressed.
Speaking to ANI in Jalna, Jarange Patil said the agitation would shift to Mumbai if the government failed to act within the deadline.
"The government has eight days left. If the Maratha community's demands are not met within this period, I will sit on a fast unto death at Mumbai's Azad Maidan at 10 AM on September 19. Whatever happens next will take place in Mumbai. The government shows no regard for the issues faced by poor Marathas," he said.
The latest standoff follows a meeting between a state government delegation and Jarange Patil on September 4, the sixth day of his indefinite hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district.
The delegation appealed to him to withdraw his agitation, but the activist remained firm on his demands.
The delegation included Maharashtra ministers Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Uday Samant and Makarand Aaba Patil, along with BJP MLA Prasad Lad. The ministers discussed several demands raised by the Maratha community during the meeting.
(With inputs from ANI)
