Barskar accuses Jarange of turning contractor, alleges Vikhe Patil gave Rs 5,000 crore in contracts
At a Mumbai press conference, Ajay Barskar alleged sand theft and land deals linked to Manoj Jarange's associates; Jarange said he has sent the government 63 names for Modi script work.
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Ajay Barskar made sharp allegations against Manoj Jarange and Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil at a press conference he called in Mumbai. Barskar said Jarange is no longer a warrior of the struggle but has become a "tender warrior".
Barskar alleged that Vilas Khedkar, the brother of Jarange's wife, steals sand. According to him, Jarange has formed a group and started a business of taking contracts, and Kishor Balande is his partner in this. Barskar also said Balande is a contractor, and asked how such a contractor reached Jarange's stage.
Naming Sanjay Katare, Barskar said he is Jarange's "invisible" man. He alleged that Katare stole sand worth more than Rs 4 crore in March 2023, and claimed he has evidence and documents to prove it. He said the contractor is on a blacklist and is an ITI pass, yet gets works worth Rs 14 crore. He asked where the contractor got a plot in the Prozone Cream area.
Barskar also made allegations about land. According to him, Jarange's own nephew Swastik has bought a large piece of land. Barskar said Jarange says Marathas have been forced to sell their land, but that blood is shed through betrayal in the name of the agitation. He also said 98 acres of land was bought in the name of Appasaheb Kudhekar.
Barskar also raised Jarange's claim about closed-door talks. According to him, Jarange used to say he does not hold discussions behind closed doors. Barskar asked what he then discussed with Ashok Chavan in a closed room. He also asked why the media was sent out when Jarange and Vikhe Patil were together, and what was so important that needed to be discussed. Barskar further alleged that Vikhe Patil gave contracts worth Rs 5,000 crore.
Meanwhile, Manoj Jarange has from time to time carried out agitations and fasts to secure reservation for the Maratha community. Jarange has now put forward his own position on this. He said he has sent the government 63 names for reading and preparing Modi script documents. According to Jarange, the government was not finding the records, so the names he provided should now be given full authority. He said he and the community will never step back.
