Mumbai: Shiv Sena leader Hemant Patil Sunday resigned from the post of MP. A Maratha, Patil submitted his resignation to the Lok Sabha Speaker over the ongoing reservation issue to stand in solidarity with his community.
In his resignation letter, a copy of which ThePrint has accessed, Patil wrote: “The Maratha issue has been pending for a long, long time. The emotions and feelings of the community are very strong. And, as a worker for the community, and who has fought for their rights, I extend my full support to the Maratha reservation (movement) and hence tender my resignation.”
Patil is a first time MP from Hingoli in Marathwada who fought on a Shiv Sena ticket. Following the split in the party, Patil had joined the camp led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Speaking to media persons Sunday morning, Patil said, “In the past four to five days, many Maratha youths have died by suicide. As a Maratha myself… (I believe) posts come and go, but your community stays with you throughout. The condition of the community is bad with no jobs and education and so I want to support the cause of Maratha reservation and resign.”
On 25 October, Manoj Jarange-Patil, the face of the Maratha reservation movement, started his second round of protests for the cause of obtaining Kunbi (OBC) certificates for Marathas.
During his Dussehra rally, CM Shinde, in fact, assured that the government is serious about giving reservation to the community. On Friday, however, the committee appointed to study this was given an extension of two months.
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