Mumbai, Agency
Maharashtra Revenue Minister and Maratha Reservation Cabinet Sub-Committee chairman Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil on Wednesday said the state government was ready to make necessary changes to its draft proposal concerning the demands raised by Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil.
Addressing a press conference at Sambhajinagar against the backdrop of Jarange Patil's indefinite hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati, Vikhe Patil said the government had already prepared and forwarded a draft addressing the demands.
He urged Jarange to point out any shortcomings or discrepancies in the proposal so that appropriate amendments could be considered.
Vikhe Patil said the government was keen to resolve the issue through dialogue and expressed concern over Jarange Patil's deteriorating health due to the ongoing fast.
He maintained that the government was making every effort to find a solution to the demands raised by the Maratha community.
The government had earlier indicated its willingness to address several issues, including the implementation of available Kunbi records, facilitating the process of issuing Kunbi certificates, speeding up caste verification, examining the Hyderabad and Satara Gazette-related demands from a legal perspective, and strengthening the administrative mechanism dealing with Maratha reservation.
Meanwhile, government officials, including the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district administration and police officials, attempted to meet Jarange Patil at Antarwali Sarati.
However, Jarange reportedly maintained that he would not hold discussions with officials and insisted that a delegation of ministers representing the state government should visit the protest site.
The standoff has kept the dialogue process at a critical juncture.
While the government has sought feedback on its draft and indicated that it is open to modifications, Jarange Patil has insisted on direct talks with the government's representatives.
With the agitation continuing and Jarange Patil's health becoming a matter of concern, pressure is mounting on both sides to reach an acceptable settlement at the earliest.
The next move by the state government and Jarange Patil's response to the draft are expected to determine the course of the agitation.
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