Uddhav Thackeray, a leader from the Shiv Sena (UBT), criticized the Maharashtra government, denouncing them as “shameless” for their handling of the police lathi-charge against Maratha reservation protesters in Jalna. Thackeray had visited Jalna to meet with the protesters, expressing his disapproval of the government’s actions.
Thackeray’s scathing remarks came in response to the police’s use of force, including lathi charges, on demonstrators demanding reservations for the Maratha community. He accused the government of failing to take responsibility for the violent crackdown and instead engaging in a blame game.
He stated, “This state government is ‘shameless’…They have brutally beaten everyone, including women…Now they are not taking responsibility and playing the blame game. This government is sending the message that if anyone protests for justice, we will break their head.”
Earlier, Uddhav Thackeray had visited Jalna and appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to grant reservations to the Marathas during the special session of Parliament scheduled for September 18. He also expressed his condemnation of the ongoing tensions in Jalna following the police lathi charge on the Maratha reservation protesters.
Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had issued an apology on behalf of the government for the police’s actions, acknowledging that the lathi-charge was inappropriate. He assured that action would be taken against those responsible for the incident. Fadnavis made this statement during a Maratha reservation meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, where a discussion with Maratha agitation leader Manoj Jarange Patil also took place.
The Maharashtra Cabinet sub-committee on Maratha Reservation convened with the chief minister and both deputy chief ministers in attendance. Manoj Jarange Patil has been at the forefront of numerous agitations advocating for reservations for the Maratha community.
The clash between police and Maratha reservation protesters in Jalna had previously erupted, leading to police resorting to lathi charges to disperse the demonstrators. The situation in Jalna remained tense as stakeholders grappled with the issue of Maratha reservation.
