After Maratha quota announcement deadline ends, Manoj Jarange Patil begins hunger strike again

Meanwhile, BJP leader and minister Girish Mahajan urged Jarange Patil to not sit on hunger strike and give some more time to the government to announce the reservation, which should be within the legal framework and sustainable in the court.

Mahajan also told Jarange Patil that his demands will be accepted and fulfilled immediately. In an audio clip of the purported telephonic conversation with the minister that was made public by Patil, Mahajan could be heard saying that the government wishes to give sustainable reservation, which could not be challenged by anyone in the court, and needs one more month.

However, Patil is heard telling the minister that he has already given over 40 days to the government but none of their demands have been accepted. Patil pointed out that even the FIRs registered against the Maratha activists have not been taken back despite the government promise that it will be done within two days.

In response, Mahajan told Patil that if he gives more time, some of his demands, including the withdrawal of criminal cases against Maratha activists, would be fulfilled immediately.

Jarange Patil, however, refused to give time and was firm on starting the hunger strike, saying that he will break the fast only when the reservation is given to Marathas.

Patil had decided to even avoid water during this fast, however, later former MP Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje met him and convinced him to take water during the fast.

Patil said that the government and the committee formed to give Kunbi certificates to the Marathas have not acted in 15 days.

“What is the problem in announcing the reservation? The government had asked for 15 days initially. Then they asked for 30 days. But we gave them 40 days… still nothing has been done,” Patil said, adding that it looks like even Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is known to be sensitive is not serious about their demand.

The issue of Maratha reservation took the centrestage of Maharashtra politics when police allegedly resorted to lathicharge and used tear gas on the protesters in Jalna’s Antarwali village on September 1. The state government came under fire from opposition leaders, with all party leaders supporting the agitation led by Manoj Jarange Patil and slamming the government for using force on the protesters.

The pressure forced the government to initiate talks with Jarange Patil and issue a government resolution with a decision to give Kunbi caste certificates to the Marathas whose ancestors were described as Kunbi in Nizam-era documents. It will allow the Marathas from the state’s Marathwada region to avail of quota benefits as the Kunbis fall under the OBC group.

Patil, who had been on an indefinite hunger strike since August 29 in Jalna, broke his fast on September 14 in the presence of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and other ministers, after taking assurance about the reservation and gave 40 days to the government to announce the decision that got over on October 24.