Maratha Quota: Manoj Jarange finishes fast, vows to battle in Mumbai if…

A delegation of retired Bombay High Court judges Sunil Shukre, MG Gaikwad and some officials also met Jarange, who reiterated his demand for seats in government jobs and educational institutions for Marathas across Maharashtra.

Jalna: Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange ended his indefinite fast on Thursday after nine days, but not before doubling down on the reservation issue and warning of greater unrest if no action is taken within two months to restore job benefits and extend education to the community. the Maharashtra government on its toes.

Jarange, aged around 40 and whose agitation in support of reservation for the Maratha community has kept Maharashtra on the boil, has vowed to lead a ‘mass’ march to Mumbai if the emotive issue is not decided within two months taken.

“Then people in Mumbai will not even get vegetables… we will suffocate Mumbai,” warned the activist, who began his indefinite hunger strike in a village here on October 25 – his second fast over the quota issue in the past three months .

His announcement at the fast site in his village of Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district came after four ministers from Maharashtra met him and requested him to call off the indefinite hunger strike.

Speaking to reporters later in Mumbai, Prime Minister Eknath Shinde thanked Jarange for calling off the fast. Shinde said each district collector will be asked to deploy 10 officials to find old documents on the basis of which Kunbi caste certificates can be given to the eligible Marathas.

One of the activist’s demands is that Marathas be given Kunbi caste certificates. The Kunbi agricultural community is already getting quota benefits in the OBC category. “I have ended my fast but the agitation over Maratha quota continues. The relay fasting will also continue,” Jarange said, asking the government to resolve the issue before December 24.

“Though I am not satisfied with anything at the moment, this (end of fast) will put an end to the suicides (taking place in support of quota demands) in the state. If the demand for reservations is not met by December 24, we will suffocate Mumbai by sitting on the border after January 2,” Jarange claimed.

A delegation of retired Bombay High Court judges Sunil Shukre, MG Gaikwad and some officials also met Jarange, who reiterated his demand for seats in government jobs and educational institutions for Marathas across Maharashtra. The activist demanded ‘foolproof reservation’ and asked the state government to give him the assurance.

The ministerial delegation included cabinet members from all three parties that make up the ruling alliance: the Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction). It consisted of Uday Samant, Sandipan Bhumre, Dhananjay Munde and Atul Save.

Jarange said he “will not touch the door of his residence” until reservation benefits are provided to all Marathas and demanded that a date be fixed for withdrawal of offenses registered against quota agitators.

“Why can’t Kunbi caste certificates be given to Marathas even after more than 13,000 records have been found?” he asked. “They (the government) need 45 to 60 days to make various committees do their work for giving permanent reservation to the Maratha community. In the meantime, we meet our people from village to village. If our demands are not accepted, we will sit on the Mumbai border,” Jarange said.

The activist had said on Wednesday evening that he would not drink water after an all-party meeting earlier in the day passed a resolution supporting the quota demand and calling on him to end his fast.

(With PTI inputs)