OBC activist Laxman Hake has condemned Maratha quota campaigner Manoj Jarange-Patil and BJP MLA Suresh Dhas for allegedly trivializing the murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district, Maharashtra. Deshmukh was reportedly kidnapped and killed on December 9, 2024, after opposing extortion attempts related to a windmill project. Seven suspects have been apprehended in connection with the crime.
The case has sparked significant political discourse, as it carries caste implications; Deshmukh belonged to the Maratha community, while most of the accused are from the Vanjari community, a prominent OBC group in Beed. This has intensified political tensions, with figures from both the ruling party and the Opposition demanding the resignation of Dhananjay Munde, a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Vanjari community member, claiming his associate may have links to the murder.
During a condolence meeting in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, Hake accused Jarange-Patil and Dhas of politicizing the tragedy. “They have trivialized the gravity of Santosh Deshmukh’s murder. Where was Dhas when police were assaulted during the quota protests instigated by Jarange-Patil?” Hake questioned.
Hake further asserted that Dhas’s position has noticeably changed since the Maharashtra Assembly elections, alleging that he previously opposed Munde’s success but is now working to obstruct his role as Beed’s Guardian Minister.
Criticizing the increasing caste-based rhetoric surrounding the case, Hake emphasized, “We have never politicized tragedies or provided support based solely on caste. Yet, now, animosity is being directed toward a specific community.” He called for justice for Deshmukh while expressing concern over the climate of fear this incident has cultivated among OBC community members.
In his remarks regarding Jarange-Patil, Hake dismissed him as an “accidental leader” lacking a proper grasp of the reservation debate. “Previously, the focus was on Muslims and Dalits; now, the OBC community is facing similar challenges,” he argued.
Hake also took aim at NCP leader Sharad Pawar for not making an appearance to support the family of Somnath Suryavanshi, who died in judicial custody amid disturbances linked to the defacement of a Constitution replica last month.
Published – January 09, 2025, 04:35 am IST
