Uday Samant Rejects Claims Over Jarange Protest Trigger

Uday Samant has strongly dismissed allegations that he instigated Manoj Jarange Patil to restart the Maratha reservation agitation. Speaking to reporters in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the Maharashtra minister said the accusations being circulated against him are politically motivated and baseless.

Clarifying his stand, Samant asserted that Jarange Patil is an independent and influential leader who does not function under anyone’s direction.

“If Jarange had launched an agitation after meeting me, journalists in Sambhajinagar would have witnessed it immediately. I did not meet him secretly. Videos of our meeting are available publicly. Manoj Jarange Patil is not such a small leader that he would start an agitation because I told him to,” Samant said.

The controversy erupted after claims surfaced suggesting that Samant’s meeting with Jarange Patil in Antarwali Sarati during April had a direct connection with the activist’s fresh protest warning. Nearly two weeks after that meeting, Jarange announced a renewed agitation from May 30 over the Maratha reservation issue.

Samant also took a swipe at advocate Gunaratna Sadavarte, who allegedly raised the allegations publicly.

“This became breaking news because Gunaratna Sadavarte said it. Had BJP leaders made such allegations, it would still have made sense. The lawyer only entertains everyone,” Samant remarked sarcastically.

Speaking on the Maratha reservation issue, Samant defended the Mahayuti government’s decisions and said the administration remains committed to ensuring justice for the Maratha community.

“The government under Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis has taken proper decisions regarding reservation. If Jarange feels there are loopholes or injustice, the government is trying to resolve those issues. We have already provided 10 percent reservation to the Maratha community,” he stated.

He further added that if instructed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, he would again meet Jarange Patil for discussions.

The renewed political tension comes after Jarange Patil accused the Maharashtra government of implementing the Hyderabad Gazette GR at an extremely slow pace. He alleged that Kunbi caste certificates are either not being issued or are not being validated despite government assurances.

Jarange Patil has now warned of launching another large-scale agitation from May 30 if the demands remain unresolved, escalating pressure on the Mahayuti government ahead of crucial political developments in the state.