Key Takeaways
- Manoj Jarange-Patil ended his 17‑day hunger strike after meeting CM Eknath Shinde.
- The activist demanded permanent reservation for the Maratha community in Maharashtra.
- He set five conditions, including certificate distribution by day 31 and suspension of officials who used lathis.
Jalna: Maratha Reservation activists Manoj Jarange-Patil who was on a hunger strike from Antarwali Sarati village in Ambad taluka of the district for his demand for reservation to the Maratha community for the last 17 days, called off his hunger strike on Thursday after consuming juice by the hands of state Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
On this occasion, several cabinet ministers of Shinde’s ministry and union minister of state for railways Raosaheb Patil Danve were present.
State cabinet ministers Girish Mahajan, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Sandipan Bhumre,Atul Save, Uday Samant, and all people’s elected representatives among top-ranking officials were present.
Speaking on this occasion, Jarange-Patil said he was called to his hunger strike after the chief minister’s positive commitment to provide reservation to the Maratha community.
He further said Shinde is able to take hard decisions and promised the community that he would be honest with them to get reservations for our community.
I will not keep quiet until maratha community gets permanent reservation.
He also declared that he was given 10 more days by the state government, whereas earlier he was given a one-month period to take a decision.
Jarange Patil also appealed to the community people to not take law and order into their own hands in the state and do their agitation in a democratic and peaceful way.
Many noted that Jarange-Patil had laid down five conditions to the state government:
1. Certificate distribution: On day 31, certificates will be handed to the entire Maratha community in Maharashtra;
2. Legal relief: All cases against Maratha reservation activists should be withdrawn;
3. Accountability: Officials who used lathis should be suspended;
4. Leadership participation: The Chief Minister, both Deputy Chief Ministers, and the Cabinet should come to break the fast;
5. Written guarantee: The government must put all promises in writing.
