Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil, who is leading the community's agitation for reservation, on Sunday said an intensified agitation which will include fast unto death and a hunger strike will be launched from October 25 as the state government is unlikely to provide reservation by the set deadline of October 24. “From October 25, I will launch a fast unto death. During this hunger strike, I will not take any medicine nor will avail of any medical assistance. I will give up food and water as well. To get justice for the Maratha community, I will launch a strict hunger strike,” Jarange-Patil said at a press conference in Antarwali Saraati village in Jalna district where he had fasted for 17 days, demanding reservation for the Maratha community. Warning political leaders to stay away from his village, Antarwali Saraati, Jarange-Patil said, “Till the issue of Maratha reservation is resolved, no political leader should step into our village. Get reservation and only then come to our village, otherwise, we will not allow you to touch even our village border." Jarange-Patil urged across Maratha quota activists to hold a hunger strike on behalf of all villages in a particular circle. “From October 28, this hunger strike will be converted into a fast unto death. Maratha community should make circle-wise preparations for this. Villagers from nearby villages should gather at one particular circle or a bigger village and remain seated there.” He urged the Maratha community to take out a candle march to awaken the government. “The government will find it difficult to tackle this peaceful agitation. Five crore Maratha community members will be part of this hunger strike and fast until death. I will reveal the future direction of the agitation on October 25.” Earlier, while on the way to Jalna from Beed this morning, Jarange-Patil reminded Chief Minister Eknath Shinde that only two days are left for him to keep his word. Jarange-Patil, who has been visiting different parts of the state and addressing rallies ahead of his deadline of October 24 given to the state government to provide reservations to the Maratha community, said the 40-day deadline given to the CM is getting over on October 24. ''We hope on October 24, the Maratha community will get the reservation. The Chief Minister had given us the word that his government would provide us with the reservation,; Jarange-Patil while interacting with reporters. When asked about the deadline set by Jarange-Patil, Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande said, “The state government is committed to ensuring reservation for the Maratha community. The government is doing everything to help the community get reservation. But we want to ensure that the reservation stands the scrutiny of the Supreme Court. Earlier too, the state governments had given reservations but they were quashed by the Supreme Court. This time, we will ensure a fool-proof reservation which will be upheld in the apex court.”
