Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil to go on indefinite fast again from January 25

Jarange Patil accused the Mahayuti government of “cheating” and said it failed to fulfil its promises to the Maratha community.

Published on: Dec 17, 2024, 18:05:24 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil said on Tuesday that he would launch an indefinite fast on January 25 to increase pressure on the state's Devendra Fadnavis government to accept the Maratha community's demands for reservation in jobs and education under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

Maratha leader Manoj Jarange Patil is seen interacting with the Maratha community members in a meeting. (File) (Praful Gangurde / HT Photo)

Patil urged the members of the Maratha community to attend the protest in large numbers, news agency PTI reported. “No one should stay at home. Come to Antarwali Sarthi (village), and let us show our collective strength,” he said, adding that there will be “no compulsion or pressure on anyone”.

The activist accused the state government of “cheating” and said it failed to fulfil its promises to the Maratha community. “We will not spare them if they don't meet our demands during the ongoing winter session,” Patil said.

Also read | Maharashtra elections: BJP ropes in top leaders to woo non-Maratha voters

He demanded that the state government implement the draft notification that recognises the “Kunbis” as related by birth or marriage to the Marathas (sage soyare) and grant reservations to the latter under the OBC category.

Patil also demanded that the state speed up the work undertaken by the Justice (retd) Sandeep Shinde Committee. The Mahayuti government formed the committee to expedite the process of granting “Kunbi” certificates to the Marathas, which makes them eligible for reservations.

Also read | Rumours of Maratha CM upset RSS

The 42-year-old activist, emphasising the same demand, went on six hunger strikes last year. In February 2024, the Mahayuti government unanimously passed a bill providing 10% reservation for the Marathas in education and government jobs under a separate category.

However, Jarange has been insisting on quota for the community under the OBC head. The agrarian Kunbi community already receives quota benefits under the OBC category.

U-turn before poll

Before voting in the Maharashtra assembly election, Patil withdrew his list of candidates and decided to support the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) against the Mahayuti alliance.

Patil withdrew from the fray as he had not received a response from smaller allies representing castes like the Dalits and Muslims. He had been banking on them to field candidates as part of his plan. Patil also said he had realised that no election could be fought in the name of a single caste.

(With PTI inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.