‘Manoj Jarange is my brother’: Amruta Fadnavis invites activist home for meal amid Maratha quota protest

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 communityJarange 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 categoryHe 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 communityAmruta Fadnavis invites Jarange for mealAsked 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 homeShe made the remarks while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme in Nagpur on Wednesday nightHer comments came as Jaranges agitation over the Maratha quota demand entered its 13th day keeping the issue at the centre of political and public debate in MaharashtraChief minister says government open to dialogueChief 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 anotherWe 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 saidThe chief ministers remarks came amid the continuing agitation led by Jarange and his demands for reservationrelated measures for the Maratha communityThe government has maintained that any decision on reservation must remain within the constitutional frameworkMaratha quota protest continues in JalnaJarange 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 MarathasThe 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 frameworkThe protest at Antarwali Sarati has continued as the government weighs the demands and their legal and constitutional implicationsAmruta Fadnavis comments on Navratri eventsAmruta 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 themHer comments came after Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane backed the Vishva Hindu Parishads call to prevent Muslims from entering Navratri eventsThe issue has generated debate over participation in garba and dandiya events which are held across Maharashtra during the Navratri festivalVHP calls for restrictions on Muslims at eventsThe Vishva Hindu Parishad last week announced that Muslims would not be allowed to enter garba and dandiya venues across Maharashtra during NavratriThe festival is scheduled to begin on October 11 according to the information provided by the organisationAmruta 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 worldWith inputs from PTI