Maratha row: Manoj Jarange Patil to launch indefinite fast in Mumbai on August 29
Addressing the media from Antarwali Sarathi in Jalna district, Mr. Jarange Patil issued a clarion call — 'Chalo Mumbai' — urging members of the Maratha community to mobilise in large numbers in support of their long-standing demands. The announcement coincides with the end of a three-month deadline he claims to have given the government to act upon promises made during an earlier agitation.
Also Read | Jarange begins seventh indefinite fast for Maratha quota, demands death penalty for sarpanch's killers
In a direct warning to Chief Minister Eknath Fadnavis, the activist said that any harm inflicted upon protestors would provoke a state-wide response. 'If even a single person is hurt during this movement, I will ensure that no MLA or MP in Maharashtra will be able to step out freely,' Mr. Jarange Patil said.
The activist had earlier ended a similar hunger strike on January 30, citing assurances from the State government regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the committee headed by retired judge Sandeep Shinde. However, he claimed that no tangible progress has been made since then.
'The Maratha community has waited patiently for two years. Despite agreeing to our demands, the government has failed to act. They have deceived us,' he alleged, demanding that the State pass a resolution equating Marathas with Kunbis, thereby enabling their inclusion under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category for central educational institution reservations.
Citing the Shinde committee's reported finding of 58 lakh historical records linking Marathas to the Kunbi agrarian class, Mr. Jarange Patil questioned the State's reluctance to amend the 2012 Act governing OBC reservations.
He reiterated his call for the recognition of 'Sage Soyre' — all blood relatives of the Maratha community — as Kunbis. He further urged the government to issue caste certificates to those whose ancestral records appear in official gazettes such as those of Hyderabad, Satara Sanstha, and Bombay.
Calling for administrative accountability, the activist demanded the suspension of officials who deny issuing valid certificates, the dissemination of archival records to gram panchayats, and the withdrawal of legal cases filed against Maratha protestors.
'If the government does not listen now, we will go to Mumbai. But I want everyone to drop me there and return to their work. The detailed roadmap will be announced on August 1,' he said, noting that the protest will be conducted simultaneously in Jalna and Mumbai.
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