Pune: Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Thursday termed deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis ‘the cruellest home minister' of Maharashtra and said BJP would face a drubbing in the assembly polls just because of Fadnavis. "I have not seen a more cruel home minister than Fadnavis. I have no personal enmity with him, but the Marathas have not forgotten the way he ordered police lathicharge on innocent people during the last year's agitation.
The BJP will be washed out in the assembly elections only because of Fadnavis. We will ensure that BJP loses more than 100 seats in the polls," Jarange said, while addressing supporters in Antarwali Sarati on the occasion of completing one year of Maratha quota agitation. The activist had called a meeting at Antarwali Sarati to the agitation anniversary.
During the meeting, Jarange announced that he would start an indefinite hunger strike from Sept 29, which would be his final hunger strike to press for the Maratha quota demand. "On the day of completing one year of the agitation, I am issuing an ultimatum to state govt to accept our demand and give Marathas reservation under the OBC category. Govt has one month to take the decision.
If it fails to make any announcement, I will start an indefinite strike from Sept 29, which will be be a decisive hunger strike," Jarange said. Recalling the early days of agitation, Jarange said, "I am satisfied that I could bring together my community members for a common cause. All this while, the community was scattered and could not show its strength, leading to its exploitation.
But after we united, the entire country realised our power. We showed the same power in the recent Lok Sabha election too. The message to all the politicians is now quite clear that they cannot take the Maratha community lightly.
" On contesting the assembly polls, Jarange said he would take the decision once the election dates are announced for Maharashtra..
