Maratha quota: Manoj Jarange slams BJP leader Pravin Darekar

The hunger strike of Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange continued in Antarwali Sarati in Maharashtras Jalna district on the second day on Sunday reported news agency PTIHe is seeking immediate implementation of the state governments sage soyare kin by blood and marriage notification which will pave the way for the Maratha community to avail OBC quota benefits after getting Kunbi certificatesSpeaking to reporters Jarange slammed BJP MLC Pravin Darekar for some the latters statementsDarekar has been given a contract to break the Maratha movement Jarange alleged reported PTIIf they put me in jail ensure all BJP candidates are defeated in the assembly polls Darekar is acting on the behest of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Because of people like Darekar the BJP will face lot of losses he claimed reported PTIJarange said if the Maharashtra government does not pass a law recognising Marathas as Kunbis before the assembly polls then he would campaign against the BJP and ensure its defeat reported PTIDarekar had recently said Jaranges Maratha quota stir was political and was driven by personal ambition rather than community welfareEarlier Jarange had suspended his indefinite fast over the reservation issue on June 13 six days after launching it and set a deadline of one month before the government to accept the communitys demandsSpeaking to reporters on Saturday Jarange said I had to launch this fast as the government did not keep its word I will continue the strike till my death reported PTIHe said a crucial meeting will be held on August 29 where the Maratha community will decide whether to contest the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections reported PTIDuring the indefinite fast he would undertake a statewide tour from August 7 to 13 he saidI will tour Maharashtra in an ambulance and address meetings Following this a series of meetings will be held at Antarwali Sarati from August 14 to 20 to discuss assembly polls On August 29 if the community decides against fielding any candidate we will not field any But we will then work towards defeating those who oppose Maratha reservation and support them who are in its favour he said reported PTIHe urged the Maratha community members to collect data on probable candidates to be fielded in the assembly polls so that discussion can be held on them between August 14 and 20 reported PTIHe further said the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA were trying to take advantage of his agitation reported PTIThe Mahayuti wants me to field 288 candidates in the elections while the MVA hopes that I would support it instead But I know their tricks and I will not let their plans succeed he said reported PTIHe alleged that the Eknath Shindeled Maharashtra government launched the Ladki Bahin and Ladka Bhau schemes in view of the upcoming electionsThere were several welfare schemes that were shut down in the past he said reported PTIJarange accused Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of betraying the Dhangar community by failing to include them in the Scheduled Tribe ST category and alleged that OBC leaders were trying to create discord between Marathas and OBCsOn the Prakash Ambedkarled Vanchit Bahujan Aghadis plan to launch Aarakshan Bachao Janyatra on the reservation issue in parts of Maharashtra he said We expect that Ambedkar will support us as he is the leader of the poor and weaker sections of the societyWith inputs from PTI