In a dramatic turn of events, the Maharashtra state secretariat, Mantralaya, witnessed an unusual protest on Friday when Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal and three other legislators leapt from the third floor of the building.
Their protest was sparked by growing opposition to the inclusion of the Dhangar community in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category. Thankfully, the lawmakers landed safely on a net installed one floor below, a precautionary measure set up in 2018 to prevent suicide attempts at the government building.
Breaking!
Maharashtra Dy Speaker & NCP (Ajit Pawar) MLA Narhari Zirwal Jumped from 3rd floor of Assembly building & stuck in Safety net
He is protesting against :
> Govt not recruiting tribal youths under PESA act
> Against Demand of including Dhangar (Kuruba) community in ST… pic.twitter.com/ARgwUL13v1— Veena Jain (@DrJain21) October 4, 2024
Narhari Zirwal, a member of the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), along with three other legislators, including a BJP MP, executed the jump to make a strong statement against the government’s consideration of adding the Dhangar community to the ST category. Videos circulated online show the legislators climbing back into the building after their fall, and officials confirmed that none of them sustained injuries.
Tribal MLA Protest at Cabinet Meeting
Earlier in the day, tensions around the Dhangar issue had already come to the fore, as tribal MLAs held a protest inside the Mantralaya complex. Their demonstration coincided with a cabinet meeting attended by key state leaders, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, among others.
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The Dhangar community, currently classified under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category in Maharashtra, has been advocating for their inclusion in the ST category. Protests have been ongoing in Pandharpur, Solapur district, with demonstrators arguing that the Dhangar community is identical to the Dhangads, who are recognized as Scheduled Tribes in several other states.
Growing Pressure on Government
The demand for the Dhangar community’s inclusion in the ST category has escalated in recent months, putting pressure on the Maharashtra government. Proponents argue that the community deserves the same recognition as the Dhangads in other regions, which would afford them access to various welfare schemes and benefits available to Scheduled Tribes.
Friday’s high-profile protest by legislators signals deepening divisions within Maharashtra’s political circles over the Dhangar issue. As the government deliberates the community’s future, demonstrations from both sides of the debate are expected to intensify.
