Maratha quota activist Jarange-Patil goes on indefinite hunger strike again

The Maratha reservation issue continued to vex Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s government as quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil on Wednesday hardened his stance

The Maratha reservation issue continued to vex Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s government as quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil on Wednesday hardened his stance by launching another indefinite hunger strike despite the State government’s efforts to dissuade him.

Accusing the government of “not being serious” on the reservation issue and “misleading” people, Mr. Jarange-Patil began his hunger fast at the Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district in the State’s Marathwada region.

He had undertaken an indefinite hunger strike on August 29 this year but had called it off after 17 days when Mr. Shinde personally called on him and persuaded him to withdraw it.

The activist had given a 40-day deadline (which ended on October 24) to the government to fulfil all demands pertaining to Maratha reservation, chief among them being the granting of Other Backward Classes (OBC) certificates to Marathas, thus enabling the community to enjoy the reservation benefits granted to the OBCs.

“We have given the government 40 days to fulfil our demands. We will not step back now. The future of our children is being ruined,” Mr. Jarange-Patil said.

He further said the State government had not yet withdrawn cases lodged against Maratha quota agitators as had been promised.

Before he commenced on his fast, State Rural Development Minister and senior BJP leader Girish Mahajan spoke with Mr. Jarange-Patil over phone, assuring the activist that the government was leaving no stone unturned to give the Maratha community reservation that would withstand the scrutiny of the Supreme Court.