2 Maratha quota activists die by suicide in 2 days; CM Shinde asks for ‘more time’

In the last four days, three Maratha quota activists have died by suicide in the state. On October 19, Maratha quota activist Sunil Kawale was found dead at a flyover in Mumbai’s Bandra area, who had also left a suicide note, seeking reservations for the community.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Sunday that the state government was “committed to avail Maratha quota”, and urged the youth “not to take extreme steps like dying by suicide over the matter” and instead give the government some time to come up with “reservations that would fit in the legal framework and be sustainable”.

Urging the members of the Maratha community to abstain themselves from taking such drastic steps, Manoj Jarange-Patil, who is leading the agitation for reservation, said, “Do not commit suicide. This is not what we want. We are fighting for reservation. We will surely get it… and won’t back down until that happens. So, have patience.”

The Jalna-based activist was on a hunger strike from August 29 in Antarwali Sarathi village of Jalna district to September 18, after CM Shinde visited the village and assured him of the Maratha reservation.

Earlier, Jarange-Patil had blamed the government for suicides related to the cause. “The government is responsible for the loss of lives. Now, at least, the government should wake up and announce reservations without further delay,” he had said.