Jarange warns 5 crore Marathas will march to Mumbai if Fadnavis ignores quota demand

Maratha activist Manoj Jarange, leading a protest at Azad Maidan, threatened that over 5 crore Marathas would march to Mumbai if the quota demand is ignored. Traffic near CSMT was disrupted as the agitation entered its fourth day

Mumbai: Activist Manoj Jarange on Monday warned that more than 5 crore Marathas will come to Mumbai if Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis does not listen to the quota demands of the community.

Jarange, whose stir for quota for the community entered its fourth day at Azad Maidan in the southern part of the metropolis, accused Fadnavis of deliberately delaying a decision on the issue. “It is so easy to make a decision (on providing quota to the community). The State government has to just say that it is implementing the Hyderabad, Satara, and other gazetteers and declare all Marathas in Marathwada as Kunbis.

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The distribution of such certificates can be done by the district collectors and tehsildars,” Jarange claimed. “Marathas are waiting to arrive in Mumbai. They are waiting for the right time. More than 5 crore Marathas will come to Mumbai if Fadnavis does not listen to the demands of the community,” the activist warned. Jarange also asked quota protesters to ensure Mumbaikars are not inconvenienced due to them.

Hundreds of Maratha community members seeking quota have gathered at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and other areas in south Mumbai, causing traffic congestion and inconvenience to commuters.

The police diverted traffic heading towards the CSMT area, while the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking also suspended, diverted, or curtailed buses on all routes leading to CSMT, according to officials. Jarange also claimed three supporters have died since he began his protest on August 29.