The Maharashtra Cabinet has announced the formation of a six-member subcommittee to address issues concerning the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community, following its decision on Maratha reservation. The panel will include two ministers from each ruling party.
The move comes after Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange ended his indefinite fast at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on Tuesday, accepting the government resolution presented by the cabinet subcommittee. With tears in his eyes, Jarange called it a “Diwali” for the community and declared, “Marathas have emerged victorious today and we are happy.”
Jarange, who has been demanding that all Marathas be classified under the Kunbi OBC sub-caste to secure benefits in education and government jobs, urged his supporters to celebrate peacefully. Ganpati Aarti was performed at the protest site before the formal conclusion of the agitation.
Subcommittee head Radhakrishna Vikhepatil thanked Jarange for accepting the proposal and breaking his fast, noting that the government is taking “positive steps” to fulfil the rightful demands of the Maratha community.
Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court adjourned hearing on the quota issue, expressing hope for progress. Advocate Satish Maneshinde, representing Jarange, appealed to supporters not to disrupt traffic or gather in groups exceeding 5,000, while the state’s Advocate General Birender Saraf told the court that all procedures had been followed and violations by protesters were reported through police channels.
