Patil Criticizes GR on Kunbi Certificates as 'Useless'

Mumbai, Sep 3 (PTI) Activist Vinod Patil, a key petitioner in the legal battle for the Maratha reservation, criticized the recent Government Resolution (GR) concerning Kunbi certificates as "completely useless." The GR was introduced following the hunger strike initiated by Manoj Jarange, a prominent leader of the Maratha quota movement. However, Patil argued that the resolution would not yield tangible benefits for the community.

"The truth is, not a single certificate will come out of this GR," Patil declared at a press conference in Chattrapati Sambhajinagar. "As someone who has fought legally for the Maratha cause, I assure you that individuals without documented evidence of Kunbi heritage will gain nothing from this resolution. Hence, I find the decision profoundly disappointing."

Patil called for a press briefing by senior BJP minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, leader of the cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation, to explain the GR's intent and commit to the government's promises. Jarange concluded his hunger strike on Tuesday evening after the Maharashtra government issued a GR to establish a committee for awarding Kunbi caste certificates to Maratha community members with verifiable Kunbi ancestry, a social group classified as Other Backward Class (OBC) in the state. However, Patil remained skeptical of the GR.

"The process outlined in the GR is not specifically designed for issuing Kunbi certificates; it is a standard procedure for caste certificates. The government merely codified it in a written format with this GR." Patil continued, "Our request was that Marathas lacking documentation of Kunbi lineage should receive OBC status due to prevailing hardships. This demand remains unmet by the current decision."

Responding to Patil’s remarks, minister Vikhe Patil asserted that the government had agreed to Jarange’s principal demands, including implementing the Hyderabad and Satara gazetteers, rescinding police charges against protestors, and providing aid and jobs to families of those who perished in earlier agitations. The minister clarified that a two-month timeline was sought to issue a conclusive GR recognizing Marathas and Kunbis as one community, promising that their interests wouldn't be jeopardized.

Nonetheless, Patil refused to yield. He accused previous Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of offering no solutions, and now, Vikhe Patil of following suit. "On a scale of 1 to 100, I rate this GR at minus zero," he remarked. The activist also lamented his inability to pay homage to Maratha protestors who died during the quota crusade. "The community looks to me with hopes. Yet, let me warn you: this GR is merely a document, and nothing more," he concluded.

Jarange, a leading figure in the movement for Maratha reservation in education and government jobs, has spearheaded several hunger strikes to this end. The quota agitation gained momentum after the 2023 Jalna lathi charge, where police action against protestors ignited a wave of protests across Maharashtra.