Mumbai, Sep 16 (PTI) Maharashtra minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil on Wednesday urged Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange to call off his proposed agitation in Mumbai during the ongoing Ganesh festival, saying issues can be resolved through dialogue and discussions.
“There is absolutely no plan to use force to stop the agitation. The issue can be resolved through dialogue and discussion. We are talking to those who have studied the quota issue,” Vikhe Patil said.
He said the government was ready for discussions with the community and its representatives whenever required.
The Water Resources Minister also referred to the community’s criticism of former chief minister Eknath Shinde, saying some members felt that Shinde had “betrayed” them after they had placed their trust in him.
“If they feel that they have been betrayed, I think they should put that feeling aside,” he said, adding that Shinde had taken considerable initiative on the issue.
Vikhe Patil, who heads the government’s cabinet sub-committee on the Maratha reservation issue, claimed that around 5,500 children were given an opportunity at the time despite the possibility of contempt of court proceedings, and that the SEBC process was also initiated.
“Many things were done. I don’t think the community gains anything by feeling that it has been betrayed,” he said.
The government had introduced several schemes while respecting the sentiments of the community and had not closed the doors to discussions in the future, according to the minister.
“Our only expectation is that devotees should not face inconvenience during Ganeshotsav. They are going to travel from Pune to Mumbai, and we do not want any untoward incident to take place,” Vikhe Patil said.
He appealed to Jarange to stop the agitation in view of the ongoing festival.
Jarange, whose fast entered the 19th day on Wednesday, reached Patoda in Maharashtra’s Beed district at around 11 am, nearly 14 hours after setting out from Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district. He is scheduled to reach Mumbai on September 19 after passing through Ahilyanagar, Pune and Khopoli in Raigad district.
Last year, Jarange’s hunger strike at Azad Maidan had brought south Mumbai to a standstill as thousands of his supporters poured into the city. The stir was called off on September 2, 2025, after the government accepted six of his eight demands and initiated steps for Kunbi classification certificates.
This time, however, the BJP-led state government has adopted a stern approach, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday saying that maintaining law and order was the responsibility of the police. He also questioned the need to stage the agitation during the Ganesh festival. PTI MR NP
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