Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil Wednesday withdrew his hunger strike after ill health and appeal from his supporters at Antarwali Sarathi in Jalna district. This was Jarange’s sixth hunger strike, which he started at his village on September 17, raising demands over Maratha reservation. The quota activist, however, warned the ruling BJP not to take the quota agitation “lightly”. “I have conceded to my supporters demand to end the hunger strike. But BJP should not take this agitation lightly. It will have to face serious consequences,” Jarange Patil told mediapersons after ending the strike. Jalna Collector Radhakrishna Panchal and Superintendent of Police Ajaykumar Bansal met Jarange Patil Tuesday night and urged him to end the strike for health reasons. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Wednesday accused Sharad of having “double standards” and urged Jarange Patil to seek in writing the NCP(SP) chief’s stand on Maratha reservation. “Jarange Patil should seek in writing Sharad Pawar’s stand on reservation. Whether he accepts the demand for giving Maratha reservation under the OBC (category), and if so when MVA is voted to power, will it be fulfilled,” Fadnavis said while addressing a meeting of Mathadi workers in Navi Mumbai. “Pawar's stand on Maratha reservation exposes his double standard,” he added. According to Fadnavis, at an all-party meeting held in Mumbai last month, Pawar had taken a stand that he endorses Jarange Patil's stand on Maratha reservation while stating that it should not affect reservation availed by other communities. The Deputy CM added that the state government is committed to Maratha reservation. “We have always worked to ensure Maratha reservation withstand legal scrutiny. In 2018, the BJP government had given reservation to Marathas under Socially and Educationally Backward Class Act. Unfortunately, Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Uddhav Thackeray failed to pursue the matter in court when it was challenged,” Fadnavis alleged.
