Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai
Mumbai, Sep 3: Jubilant scenes were witnessed in Mumbai on Tuesday as maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange announced that the community’s long battle with the Maharashtra government had officially come to an end.
Supporters erupted in celebration, shouting, “Jinkle re jinkle, Maratha jinkle” (They won, they won, the Marathas won!). The precincts of Azad Maidan and D N road in fort turned colourful with gulal, while firecrackers were burst amid the festive mood. Groups of protesters clicked selfies with police officials, politicians, and mediapersons before dispersing.
For many, the victory carried deep emotional weight. Ganesh Kokate, a protester preparing to leave the site, said, “Marathwada has seen so many suicides of farmers who saw no hope in the future. Now our children will get educated and get proper jobs. Now we have something to live for.”
Young farmers Vishnu and Avinash Kale from Hingoli echoed similar sentiments. “In our society, there is no value in farming. For marriage, all anyone asks is — what job does he do? back home, there are many unmarried men in their 30s and 40s because no parent wants to give their daughter into poverty and hardship,” Vishnu explained. Avinash added, “Even in good monsoons, we grow four to five quintals of soybean, earning Rs 4,000 per quintal. But with costs of over Rs 3,000 per acre, little is left. If rains fail, we are ruined.”
As many protesters departed for their villages via CSMT or parked vehicles, the Azad Maidan site grew quieter. Kisarem Raut of the akhil bharatiya maratha maha sanghatna (Jalna) remarked, “In India, aren’t we all supposed to be equal? Then why should a Maratha child who scores well be denied a seat in favour of someone with fewer marks?”
For the supporters, the announcement was nothing short of festive. One elated participant said, “This is Diwali for us. Manoj Jarange dada is our hero.” Celebrations were also reported in Navi Mumbai, where thousands of Maratha protesters had been staying since August 29.