Maharashtra: Quota activist Manoj Jarange claims OBC leaders targeting Marathas

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Tuesday alleged that OBC leaders were targeting Marathas by getting false offences registered against them and said Maratha leaders should stand with the youth of the community news agency PTI reportedJaranges statement comes a day after Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal said backdoor attempts to grant reservation to the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes OBC category will be opposed and violence and pressure tactics will not be toleratedBhujbal visited the houses of NCP MLAs Prakash Solanke and Sandip Kshirsagar which were targeted when the quota agitation turned violent in Beed last weekAddressing a press conference on Tuesday Jarange claimed the ministers visit to Beed was to target the Marathas Cases are being registered against Marathas who have been agitating peacefully Maratha leaders in the state should look into this and stand with the youth If you dont stand with them today they will not forgive you tomorrow he saidThe Maratha community has nothing to do with the violence This is the right time to stand with the community Dont make us stop your entry into villages the activist saidJarange has been demanding reservations for the Maratha community in government jobs and education under the OBC categoryDismissing Bhujbalrsquos claims ndash a hotel in Beed was vandalised for an hour in the presence of two policemen who were helpless to stop the vandals and the residence of senior leader Jaydatta Kshirsagar was torched even though he had not said anything about the Maratha quota issue ndash Jarange said the hotel in Beed was vandalised by people known to the owner and they have been arrested Marathas are protesting peacefully and this is an attempt to taint our agitation I have also found out that the minister Bhujbal met the superintendent of police in Beed gave him a list of names and told him to arrest them to target the Marathas he claimedAlso read Navi Mumbai Controversial coptown may opt for selfredevelopmentThe pressure is being built and the police are being asked to prepare a supplementary list of accused and add these names Nearly 5000 to 10000 people from the community are trapped the activist chargedJarange further claimed that OBC leaders were misusing their posts to trap the Marathas and harass them through a conspiracy The community cannot be suppressed he assertedThe chief minister and deputy chief ministers should speak to these leaders to ensure there is no strife or else the Maratha community will have to decide on the next phase of agitation he saidThey should also check whether he Bhujbal met the superintendent of police I dont understand why Bhujbal is so troubled by the Maratha reservation Even people from the OBC community say that he is causing tensions the activist claimedJarange appealed to the Maratha community to start chain hunger strikes in villages of the state and ensure that by December 1 such agitations cover all villages