Manoj Jarange Patil, the Jalna-based activist at the forefront of the Maratha community’s agitation for reservation in Maharashtra, reminded Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday that only two days were left for him to keep his word on the issue, prompting the Shinde Sena to say that the state government was committed to ensuring reservation for the community, “but one that will stand the scrutiny of the law”. Jarange Patil, who is visiting different parts of the state and addressing rallies ahead of the October 24 deadline he gave the government to provide reservation to the Maratha community, reminded Shinde on Sunday that the 40-day deadline would end on October 24. “We hope on October 24, the Maratha community will get reservation. The chief minister had given us his word that his government would grant us reservation. We had initially given a month’s time and then extended the deadline by 10 days. Now, October 24 is the deadline. We are hoping that the CM will honour his word and not ignore and humiliate us,” Jarange Patil said while interacting with reporters. Jarange Patil said that though the Maratha Reservation Committee has sought two more months, they would not extend the deadline. “Instead of three days, we gave him [Shinde] 40 days. And by doing so, we showed our respect to him. I am sure the chief minister will not betray the Maratha community,” he added. 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 reservation 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.” Jarange Patil shot to fame after he held a fast at Antarwali-Sarati village in Jalna district from August end. After the police lathi-charged the villagers, Jarange Patil demanded the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the state home minister. Top leaders from the Opposition as well as the government rushed to the village to persuade him to call off his hunger strike. After CM Shinde met him, Jarange Patil withdrew his hunger strike but not before extracting a promise that reservation would be provided to the Maratha community in a month.