With threat of large-scale protests by Maratha groups looming large, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis cancelled his Monday visit to Pandharpur, claiming that intelligence inputs suggested some elements were likely to perform acts of sabotage that could even claim lives.
As part of a long-standing tradition, every year, the chief minister offers prayers at the temple dedicated to Lord Vitthal and Rukmini at Pandharpur in Solapur district.
But some Maratha organisations have threatened to prevent him from worshipping in the temple town over demands for job and education quotas, and scrapping recruitment for 72,000 government jobs till the court decides on Maratha reservations.
The Dhangar community, which has significant numbers in and around Solapur, is also disgruntled at not being included in the scheduled tribes (ST) category.
"Around 10 lakh warkaris have come to Pandharpur. Some groups and individuals are trying to ensure a threat to their lives. Police intercepts of messages show (plans to) release snakes among the warkaris, create conditions for a stampede... It is shameful for a progressive state like Maharashtra," the CM told reporters on Sunday.
"This is the question of security of 10 lakh warkaris. I am a Z-plus protectee and no one can touch me."
But if any warkari loses his life, no one will forgive Maharashtra. So I have decided that I will not go for the mahapuja," the chief minister said.
"Some are holding warkaris hostage for their demands, this is very wrong," charged Fadnavis, stating that these groups were besmirching the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and social reformers like Mahatma Phule, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj and Dr BR Ambedkar.
Sources said the Maratha protests, albeit with an aggressive tone, were relaunched from Tuljapur this month. It saw buses being stoned in Solapur and sit-in agitations in Beed.
The chief minister said they were committed to Maratha quotas. The community was given 16% reservations in jobs and employment and the case is sub-judice. The state backward classes commission is examining the legal validity of the decision.
"All understand that the government cannot take a decision about it, only the High Court can. But, even then, some parties and groups are trying to incite people for creating social divisions," said Fadnavis, adding that "the veils of those who call themselves progressive leaders have been torn by this."
The Marathas will be given quotas in recruitment for 72,000 government posts and filled as a backlog after the court decides on reservations. However, scrapping the recruitment will affect those from the SC and ST categories and Maratha youth applying from the open category.
In 2016, the Marathas organized silent 'Maratha Kranti Morchas' with demands like quotas and preventing misuse of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Non-Marathas, including Dalits, retaliated through similar 'Bahujan Kranti Morchas.'
The Maratha- Kunbi caste cluster is said to account for around 31.5% of Maharashtra's population. Kunbis, who have significant numbers in Konkan and Vidarbha, are already covered under the OBC category.
PREVIOUS INSTANCES
- 1997 Chief minister Manohar Joshi cancels his puja at Pandharpur after the Ramabai Nagar killings of Dalits by the police
- 2008 Warkaris led by Bandatatya Karhadkar “ban” deputy chief minister R.R Patil visit to Pandharpur for Kartiki Ekadashi puja to protest against a Dow Chemicals facility at Chakan near Pune
- 2013 Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar forced to cancel his Kartiki Ekadashi puja after warkaris threaten protest over state not approving ban on slaughter of cow progeny, farmer groups had decried his statement about urinating in dams.
TRADITION
Warkaris or adherents of the Bhakti sect make their pilgrimage to the temple of Lord Vithoba in Pandharpur during Ashadi (June- July) in a tradition said to date back to the 13th century. The chief minister performs the puja of Vitthala on Ekadashi day on behalf of the government and the deputy chief minister or a senior minister does the honours on Kartik Ekadashi (October- November)
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 "BJP leaders Raosaheb Danve, Ashish Shelar and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcome party chief Amit Shah to the city on Sund")
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