Jarange-Patil calls off his 17-day hunger strike

Jalna: Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil on Monday called off his 17-day- hunger strike.

However, he announced that four youths will go on a “chain fast” from Tuesday, continuing the agitation till the Maharashtra government starts issuing Kunbi caste certificates to extended family members of people who have such documents, allowing them to avail reservation benefits.

Jarange-Patil’s announcement came a day after he stepped up his attack on Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, accusing him of trying to weaken the movement to demand reservation for Marathas under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil’s decision coincided with the start of the budget session of the state legislature in Mumbai.

Fadnavis wants my sacrifice as I am firm on issuing of Kunbi certificates to the Maratha community through the implementation of ‘sagesoyare (close relatives)’ notification, Jarange-Patil told his supporters in Antarvati Sarati village in Ambad taluka.

He has demanded that all Marathas be classified as Kunbi – a caste in Maharashtra under the OBC bloc.

The state government on February 20 enacted a legislation providing 10% quota to Marathas.