Tempers Flare: Supriya Sule Confronted by Irate Maratha Activists During Jarange Patil Visit

Baramati MP Supriya Sule encountered a tumultuous reception on Sunday as she attempted to meet Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil in Jalna. The meeting, intended as a show of solidarity, quickly devolved into a heated confrontation with angry Maratha activists, underscoring the simmering frustration within the community over the contentious reservation issue.

Sule, a prominent leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) faction, arrived at Antarwali Sarati village to convey her support to Jarange Patil, who has been leading a relentless agitation for Maratha reservation.

However, her arrival was met with a chorus of slogans and chants from agitated activists, who expressed their dismay over the perceived delays and political inaction regarding their demands.

As she approached Jarange Patil's protest site, activists, many of whom were reportedly close to Jarange Patil, surrounded her vehicle and began shouting, “Who needs your support? We have been cheated by all parties.” The atmosphere was charged, with the activists vehemently questioning the efficacy of political assurances and expressing deep-seated anger at the prolonged struggle for reservation.

Despite the hostile environment, Sule attempted to address the gathering, appealing for calm and emphasizing her party's commitment to the Maratha cause.

“I have always supported the cause of Maratha reservation, and I am here to do so today as well,” she stated, trying to make her voice heard above the din. However, her words were largely drowned out by the persistent heckling and slogans, making it impossible for her to engage in any meaningful dialogue.

The intensity of the protest forced Sule to cut short her visit.

After a brief, largely inaudible interaction, she was compelled to leave the site, marking a stark display of the community's deep-seated distrust and impatience with the political establishment.

Following the incident, Manoj Jarange Patil clarified that the meeting was not political and that he would meet anyone who came to express solidarity.

He reiterated his unwavering demand that all Marathas be granted reservation under the OBC category, stressing that the community's long-standing plea must be met without further delay. He also sought to distance his core supporters from the heckling, though acknowledging the palpable anger felt by many.

The incident is the latest in a series of confrontations highlighting the volatile nature of the Maratha reservation movement.

The Maharashtra government recently passed a bill granting 10% reservation to Marathas in education and government jobs, but Jarange Patil has rejected this, insisting on reservation under the existing OBC quota, arguing that the separate quota does not fully address the community's needs and faces legal challenges.

Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut had also met Jarange Patil, similarly expressing his party's support for the Maratha cause.

The mounting pressure from the agitation continues to be a significant challenge for the ruling Mahayuti government in Maharashtra, as political leaders from across the spectrum grapple with the powerful sentiments of the Maratha community ahead of crucial elections.