Banjaras are protesting across Maharashtra to demand ST status to secure a higher quota in education and jobs, citing the Hyderabad Gazette which classifies them as nomads.
In 2016, ‘Sairat’ shook up the Marathi film industry by calling attention to its elitism. It showed audiences that there is more to Marathiness than Brahmanistic ceremonies.
He along with Navnath Waghmare is on day 8 of counter protest against reservation to Marathas under OBC quota. Earlier, Maratha leader Jarange Patil agitated for quota demand.
He had last week asked members from the community to help select candidates. Despite his latest decision, he remains open to the idea of putting up candidates for state polls later this yr.
Currently on a hunger strike, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil insists that members of the community be granted reservation within the OBC quota as Kunbis.
The demand for a quota by the comparatively socially and economically privileged Maratha community prompts a reevaluation of the very bedrock of reservation policies—social justice.
Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde made announcement in assembly Tuesday. But Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil has threatened to renew protests unless 24 December deadline for reservation is met.
UCBs accounted for 1.8% of total industry credit in September 2025—down from 2.2% five yrs ago—showing that they are losing ground to faster PSU banks.
This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.
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