States » WestPosted at: Sep 17 2026 6:10PM


Jarange called off stir because his men stood to lose Rs 1,400 crore, says Congress' Vijay Wadettiwar

Mumbai, Sep 17 (UNI) Senior Congress leader and the OBC face of the Congress Vijay Wadettiwar claimed on Thursday that Maratha reservation agitator Manoj Jarange Patil called off his agitation because his associates who were allegedly given government irrigation work contracts and other deals worth around Rs 1,400 crore, stood to lose these, if Jarange Patil went ahead with his agitation.
“Recently, an Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation was started against some people close to Manoj Jarange Patil and their deals. People close to Jarange Patil were given work worth around Rs 1,400 crores. Some of them were given work by the state irrigation department. Devendra Fadnavis suspended that work.
"Did Jarange Patil get angry with Fadnavis due to this reason? Is this the reason why Jarange abused Fadnavis and headed towards Mumbai? Several questions arise. That is why I think there has been a compromise between the Fadnavis government and Jarange Patil.
"Both of them are afraid of each other and whatever has happened is a compromise made by both of them out of fear of each other,” Vijay Vadettiwar told media persons.
Wadettiwar’s statement came hours after a Fadnavis government delegation met Manoj Jarange Patil at Beed, where his convoy had halted for medical reasons. The government delegation met Jarange Patil at 4.30 am early in the morning and held discussions for around one and a half hours, according to sources.
Later, Jarange Patil held a press conference at 6 am in the morning, announcing that he has withdrawn his plan to protest in Mumbai for 90 days, adding that his agitation will go on.
Wadettiwar also stated that only time will tell whether it will be legally possible to accommodate Jarange Patil’s demand to issue a certificate as per the gazette notification of the erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad and whether it will be constitutional to do this.
“Yet, it is certain that Manoj Jarange Patil has got in writing whatever he demanded from the government ministers. There is a fear that probably OBCs will be adversely affected by this government move. OBCs have never opposed and will never oppose giving the Maratha community its due, there will be a financial impact on the state exchequer. If Marathas get their share, I am happy; but if the OBCs are adversely affected, the OBC people of Maharashtra will not forgive this government,” Vijay Wadettiwar said.
Earlier, on Thursday 4.30 am, a government delegation led by Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Primary Education Minister Dada Bhuse, BJP MLA Prasad Lad, MLA Suresh Dhas and the Beed District Collector met Manoj Jarange Patil in Beed and held discussions with him for one and a half hours.
Later, Manoj Jarange gave the government a deadline of 90 days to implement the Satara Gazette notification. “I have given the government three months. If the government resorts to intimidation, we will reach Mumbai. I am suspending the hunger strike today, but the agitation will continue,” Manoj Jarange told media persons.
Jarange Patil also appealed to his 1 lakh, 7 thousand Maratha supporters, who reached Mumbai, to return. “Ensure that the number of 58 lakh records will not be reduced. We provide people to search for the records. The Shinde committee is not working and the government is not paying attention either. This movement will not stop until it is successful. This fight will not stop.
"I have given three months to implement the Satara Gazette notification. It is not good to hurt the Maratha community. We will not remain silent if ministers criticise us,” Manoj Jarange said.
Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said that the Fadnavis government will take action based on a 1,100-page report regarding the Satara Gazette notification.
“We will take action in this regard in three to four months. We need time to study the report. The petition regarding Hyderabad Gazette is currently pending in the court. This will be taken care of," Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said.
“Why is the Maratha community being left out on this? Implement the gazetteer of Satara , Kolhapur, Pune , Aundh," said Manoj Jarange.
"The gazette notification will have to be implemented by removing the GR. 58 lakh entries were found. Not a single one of them should be reduced. A written guarantee should be given that the entries will not be reduced,” Manoj Jarange said.
The state government recently issued a government resolution (GR) stating that all three castes, namely Hindu Vani, Hindu Vaishya and Vaishya Vani, are the same.
"Issue a similar government resolution (GR) stating that Maratha and Kunbi are the same. Why one type of justice for one community and another type of justice for Marathas? In the pre-independence period, Marathas were Kunbis, ” Manoj Jarange said.
“You (government delegation) will have to give in writing that the 58 lakh records found by the Sandeep Shinde Committee will not be reduced. Not a single record should be reduced. These records should be distributed and their validity should be given within a stipulated deadline. It should have the signature of Chief Minister Fadnavis. The Chief Minister should come before the media and give an assurance in this regard,” Manoj Jarange demanded.
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Tags: #Jarange called off stir because his men stood to lose Rs 1#400 crore# says Congress' Vijay Wadettiwar
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