Address issues being raised by OBC leaders on hunger strike, treat all equally: Pankaja Munde to govt

Jalna: Bharatiya Janata Party leader Pankaja Munde on Monday asked the Maharashtra government to seriously address the issues being raised by OBC protesters Laxman Hake and Navnath Waghmare, who have been on a hunger strike here for the past five days.

The protesters, from various OBC outfits, have sought the scrapping of the government's draft notification of 'sage soyare' (blood relatives) in connection with giving Kunbi certificates to Marathas to allow the community members to avail quota benefits.

Taking to social media platform X, Munde expressed concern over the unequal treatment of protestors and urged the government to ensure equal rights for all.

Pointing out to the deteriorating health of Hake and Waghmre, who have refused to even drink water, Munde said, "The government should not discriminate among protestors. Everyone has the right to be heard and treated fairly."

प्रा. लक्ष्मण हाके आणि त्यांचे सहकारी उपोषणाला बसले आहेत. पाणी देखील सोडले आहे. पाणी सोडल्यामुळे त्यांची प्रकृती खालावत आहे. शासनाची भूमिका माय-बापाची असावी. सर्व वर्गांना, सर्व आंदोलनांना सारखीच वागणूक मिळावी. समान न्यायाची अपेक्षा मायबाप सरकारकडून असते. यांच्या उपोषणाकडे…

— Pankaja Gopinath Munde (@Pankajamunde) June 17, 2024

Hake alleged the state government was giving preferential treatment to Manoj Jarange, who is leading a stir for quota for the Maratha community, while ignoring those from the Other Backward Classes (OBC).