Quota activist Manoj Jarange accuses Congress & Rahul Gandhi of sponsoring Nagpur OBC march

Chhtatrapati Sambhajinagar: Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Friday said the recent mega OBC march in Nagpur was a Congress and Rahul Gandhi-sponsored event, aimed more at political gains than genuine community welfare. He also criticised key OBC leaders and NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

The march, organised to oppose the state govt's September 2 government resolution (GR) on reservations, was described by Jarange as "a politically motivated Congress and Rahul Gandhi-sponsored agitation."

He said, "This is not an OBC march. It is a Congress rally organised for political gains. Those organising the OBC rally are acting in accordance with the directives by Rahul. It seems the parties in power and the opposition are conspiring against our reservation." He said that Maharashtra minister Vijay Wadettiwar appeared to have "fallen prey to NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal."

Jarange's comments came a day after a closed-door meeting lasting over an hour with minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district.

Warning the government against withdrawing Maratha reservation due to OBC demands, Jarange said, "If the government is considering this, then we will not spare it. Why are they suddenly feeling their share in reservation is getting reduced because of the inclusion of Marathas? Why did they not react when many other castes were included in OBC?"

He also criticised Sharad Pawar, saying the veteran leader must be "regretting feeding milk to a snake," referring to OBC leaders who abandoned Pawar despite benefiting from his 1994 decision granting 16% reservation to OBCs. "Those whom he empowered did not stand by him. He must be repenting today," Jarange said, clarifying he was "stating differences, not insulting Pawar."

Accusing OBC leaders of seeking political mileage over welfare, Jarange said, "There is competition among OBC leaders to pull crowds. They have politics, not people's welfare, on their minds." He also took a dig at Wadettiwar, accusing him of political ambition and alleging OBC activist Laxman Hake secured "bogus quota without meeting backward commission criteria."

Wadettiwar later responded sharply, escalating the Maratha-OBC political tensions.