10 September,2026 10:04 AM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondent
Amruta Fadnavis. Pic/X
Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has described Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil as her brother and invited him to her home for a meal amid his ongoing protest seeking reservation for the community.
Jarange has been staging a protest at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district for the past 13 days, demanding reservation for the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.
He has also been seeking implementation of the Hyderabad and Satara Gazette records and the issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to eligible members of the Maratha community.
Asked about Jarange and his protest, Amruta Fadnavis said, "Jarange Patil ji is my brother and I invite him to come for a meal at our home."
She made the remarks while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme in Nagpur on Wednesday night.
Her comments came as Jarange's agitation over the Maratha quota demand entered its 13th day, keeping the issue at the centre of political and public debate in Maharashtra.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said his government would provide whatever was permissible under the Constitution but would not reduce the share of one community to accommodate another.
"We will do everything that is possible. We have never closed the doors for dialogue. A government finds a solution through discussions, and the entire process is moving forward in that spirit," he had said.
The chief minister's remarks came amid the continuing agitation led by Jarange and his demands for reservation-related measures for the Maratha community.
The government has maintained that any decision on reservation must remain within the constitutional framework.
Jarange has been demanding that the Maratha community be granted reservation under the OBC category. His demands also include action based on historical records from the Hyderabad and Satara Gazette and the issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Marathas.
The classification is significant because Kunbi is recognised within the OBC category, and certificates issued to eligible Maratha individuals on the basis of records could allow them to access benefits available under the existing OBC framework.
The protest at Antarwali Sarati has continued as the government weighs the demands and their legal and constitutional implications.
Amruta Fadnavis also spoke about participation in religious and cultural festivals, saying that such celebrations should be inclusive and that there was nothing wrong with a Muslim person attending them.
Her comments came after Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane backed the Vishva Hindu Parishad's call to prevent Muslims from entering Navratri events.
The issue has generated debate over participation in garba and dandiya events, which are held across Maharashtra during the Navratri festival.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad last week announced that Muslims would not be allowed to enter garba and dandiya venues across Maharashtra during Navratri.
The festival is scheduled to begin on October 11, according to the information provided by the organisation.
Amruta Fadnavis said Navratri and garba could serve as ways of introducing people to Hindu religious traditions and called for their distinctive aspects to be presented to audiences around the world.
(With inputs from PTI)
