The hunger strike was launched at Antarwali-Saraati, the same village in Jalna where he had gone on an indefinite fast last year to press for Maratha reservation.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil on Saturday launched yet another indefinite hunger strike at Antarwali-Saraati, demanding implementation of the promises made by the Shinde-Fadnavis government in Maharashtra. He accused the government of not fulfilling the promises made regarding the reservation for the Maratha community.
The hunger strike was launched at the same village in Jalna district where he had gone on an indefinite fast last year to press for reservation demands that had led to police lathicharge.
Like in the past, the Shinde-Fadnavis government has not appealed to the activist to withdraw from the fast. No official had come to meet him though he had announced that he would be going on fast from February 10. ”The government has not stopped me from going on a fast,” Jarange told reporters in Antarwali-Saraati today.
Jarange said the state government has issued a draft notification for expanding the OBC quota but should convert the notification into law. ”What is the government waiting for? I have been saying that the government should not waste time in issuing the notification. Yet, the notification is not being converted into a law,” he said.
The draft notification issued by the government on January 26 includes one of the key demands of Jarange-Patil related to the inclusion of sage soyare (relatives from a family tree). The draft notification states, ”Sage soyare will be considered among the relations from the patriarchal relatives. Also, relations forming out of marriages within the same caste shall be considered.”
Jarange said the state government should convene a special legislature session within two days and pass a law relating to sage-soyare. ”Three months ago, we submitted to the government the details as to who are sage-soyare for inclusion in the new law,” he said.
The activist said he had placed nine demands before the government, but still their implementation has not taken place fully. ”I have been demanding that all cases against Maratha agitators be withdrawn. The government promised but it has not done anything concrete on this front,” he said.
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Jarange said his other demand includes issuing Kunbi caste certificates to those 57 lakhs individuals whose Kunbi records have been found. ”This should be done on priority. What is the government waiting for?”
As for the Shinde committee appointed to look into the Kunbi records, Jarange said, ”We have been demanding that the committee’s tenure be extended by one year. As of now, the committee is visiting various places on and off”.
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