‘If something bad happens to Jarange Patil, Maharashtra will burn’: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut

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div id=”pcl-full-content”>Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the BJP-led state government over the ongoing Maratha reservation issue and warned that if anything happened to activist Manoj Jarange Patil, Maharashtra would burn.

Jarange Patil has been at the forefront of the agitation demanding reservation for the Maratha community and Raut’s remarks came on a day when his fast unto death at Antarwali Sarathi village entered the ninth day. The protests escalated into violence across the state this week, with MLAs’ houses being targeted, buses being vandalised and roads being blocked.

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“The decision of Maratha reservation is in the hands of the central government but Prime Minister Narendra Modi is involved in campaigning. Amit Shah is roaming from Chhattisgarh to Mizoram and Maharashtra is on fire. People are committing suicide in Maharashtra over Maratha reservation. Manoj Jarange Patil’s life is at stake. If something bad happens to his life, Maharashtra will burn,” Raut, a Rajya Sabha MP, said.

“Does the government want to set Maharashtra on fire? Is that what this is all about? PM Modi should at least talk to Manoj Jarange Patil over the phone. Don’t they have time to talk too?” Raut asked.

“Jarange Patil has asked how much time the government needs to give reservation. Is Chief Minister Eknath Shinde giving the answer? It is the duty of the government that a government delegation must meet them. The government should discuss the issue with Jarange Patil,” Raut said.

“Our position on the issue is clear; the demand of the Maratha community should be accepted without jeopardizing the reservation of any tribal, OBC or other community. It is in the hands of the central government to do this and the Centre should resolve the issue,” the party spokesperson said.

“Modi talks about Mann Ki Baat for an hour or so, travels around the world, hugs the leaders of the world, but there is no time to talk to the son of Maharashtra who has put his life on the line. What do Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis do? Are they blessed by Delhi? They should save the life of Jarange Patil,” Raut said.