Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange refused to end his hunger strike after talks with the Maharashtra government failed. He set a September 11 deadline, asked eligible Marathas to seek Kunbi certificates, and warned of a Mumbai protest.
Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange on Thursday refused to call off his indefinite hunger strike, saying he would continue the protest until the community’s demands were accepted.
He also issued an ultimatum to the Maharashtra government, saying he would take the agitation to Mumbai on September 12 if the demands were not implemented by September 11.
The announcement came after talks between Jarange and a Maharashtra government delegation failed to produce a breakthrough. Jarange urged members of the Maratha community to start applying for Kunbi caste certificates from September 4, claiming that nearly 58 lakh Kunbi records had been identified.
He also asked eligible families to begin the process of obtaining both Kunbi certificates and validity certificates, saying applications could be based on family, blood and clan links with people whose Kunbi records had been traced, including records found in the Hyderabad Gazette.
Jarange has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past week at Antarwali Sarati village in Maharashtra’s Jalna district, demanding reservation for Marathas.
A government delegation comprising Ministers Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Uday Samant, MLC Prasad Lad and MLA Makarand Patil met him on Thursday.
Vikhe Patil appealed to Jarange to end or postpone his fast, citing his worsening health, and said the government was committed to resolving the issues raised by the Maratha community.
According to Vikhe Patil, the government has traced nearly 58 lakh Kunbi records and will expedite the issuance of Kunbi certificates.
He said nodal officers would be appointed to monitor the process and assist applicants facing difficulties.
Kunbi, an agrarian community, is included in the Other Backward Class (OBC) category and is eligible for reservation in government jobs and education.
Jarange has been demanding Kunbi certificates for eligible Marathas to enable them to claim reservation under the OBC quota.
Jarange, however, rejected the government’s appeal to end his fast. He said those eligible to apply for Kunbi certificates should begin the process immediately and approach the concerned district collector if they faced any difficulties.
“I will not withdraw my hunger strike until all the demands of the Maratha community are accepted. If Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde genuinely wants to support the Maratha community, he should take a sincere and concrete stand and extend his support,” Jarange said.
“I will drink and take IV fluids, but I will not break my fast,” he added.