Maratha quota activist Jarange Patil ends 15-hour hunger strike after Maharashtra govt's positive assurances
Jalna, May 31
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil on Sunday ended his 15-hour-long indefinite hunger strike, which he had launched to intensify pressure on the Maharashtra government.
Jarange Patil, who had launched the hunger strike at 10 am on Saturday in Jalna, broke his fast in the presence of Maharashtra Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Chairman of the Maratha Reservation Sub-Committee, after the state government showcased a positive stance related to his previous pending demands for the Maratha community.
Vikhe Patil met Manoj Jarange Patil on Saturday late at night, following which detailed discussions were held between government representatives and the Maratha agitation leaders regarding a draft proposal presented by the state administration.
Soon after suspension of his hunger strike, Manoj Jarange Patil was shifted to a hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for further medical treatment.
Interacting with the media after ending his protest, Jarange stated that government resolutions (GRs) regarding most of the Maratha community's demands will be issued by Tuesday. He informed that the process of issuing Kunbi certificates based on 58 lakh recorded entries will be accelerated. Additionally, the government has given positive assurances to resolve issues related to caste validity certificates.
Jarange added that directives will be issued to take action against officials who delay the issuance of Kunbi certificates. Furthermore, a review meeting on the caste verification process will be held within 15 days, and the government has agreed to grant a one-year extension to the Shinde Committee.
He also noted that the government has been given a one-month window to withdraw police cases registered against Maratha protestors and to issue the GR related to the Satara Sansthan. According to Jarange, rushing the Satara Sansthan GR could lead to legal challenges in court. Hence, he said that the government has been allocated time to formulate a legally robust decision.
Apart from this, Jarange shared that positive decisions have been reached regarding the resumption of all schemes under 'SARATHI' and providing employment opportunities in MIDC areas for the children of families who lost members during the agitation.
Meanwhile, Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil reiterated that the state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, remains positive toward the demands of the Maratha community and is fully committed to implementing them. BJP MLA Prasad Lad was also present during the deliberation.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Jarange Patil's hunger strike is a reminder of how deeply the reservation issue affects our society. The Kunbi certificate process based on 58 lakh entries sounds promising, but implementation is key. Also, withdrawing police cases against protestors is a fair demand—why punish peaceful agitators?
Finally, some progress! The government giving a one-month window to withdraw cases is a positive step. But I'm concerned about rushing the Satara Sansthan GR—Jarange is right, it could lead to legal challenges. Better to do it right than fast.
Honest opinion: This feels like a temporary band-aid. The Maratha reservation issue is complex and old. While I appreciate the talks, I worry that the government is just buying time. The review meeting in 15 days is a good idea—let's hold them accountable.
Proud of Manoj Jarange for standing up for the community! The employment opportunities for families who lost members during agitation is a compassionate move. But I wish the government would have acted sooner—15 hours of fasting is no joke. 😔
Good that the hunger strike ended peacefully. But let's not ignore the bigger picture—this is about social justice and historical imbalances. The SARATHI schemes and MIDC jobs are nice, but what about long-term educational and economic empowerment?
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.