Mumbai: Tensions between Maratha leader Manoj Jarange Patil and the state government escalated, with Patil accusing Shiv Sena ministers of trying to engineer riots in the state. There were sharp exchanges between the Shiv Sena ministers and Patil, with the latter threatening to lead thousands of Marathas to Mumbai if the state government does not issue a government resolution to give Kunbi caste certificates to the Marathas.
“Eknath Shinde ministers are planning to create riots in the state. It’s a conspiracy. They do not want Marathas to get Kunbi caste certificates… We will crush them. We are going to Mumbai on September 12,” Patil said.
He has claimed that Shinde’s ministers have been instrumental in cancelling the Kunbi caste certificates issued to the Marathas. Patil, who till recently was only attacking the CM, has turned his focus on Shinde also and has been relentlessly attacking him and his ministers.
“He should focus on his stir, which is on the reservation issue. Why is he attacking our leader? He should not teach us. We can give him a befitting response. We are also Marathas. If he continues his attacks, then we will respond in the same manner,” said Shiv Sena minister Bharat Gogawale.
On Wednesday, protesters blocked traffic on the Beed-Parli national highway for two hours. The Hingoli market was shut while Maratha protesters were fasting for the last three days in Nanded. Roads were also blocked in Dhule. Sena minister Uday Samant and BJP MLC Prasad Lad said 3.16 lakh Kunbi caste certificates have been issued to eligible Marathas. On Patil’s claim that several applications for Kunbi certificates were rejected, Samant said, “21,051 applications were submitted for caste validity verification, out of which 16,110 were issued. Out of this, 64 applications were found invalid, which is just 0.3% rejection. He has been misguided by people close to him that there is mass rejection of caste certificates.”
