Manoj Jarange, a Maratha quota campaigner, finished his nine-day indefinite fast for the Maratha reservation on Thursday, news agency PTI reported. Jarange broke his fast by drinking juice, but not before threatening to organise a major march to Mumbai if no decision is made by December 24. His statement occurred at the fast site in his hamlet in Jalna district, after four state ministers visited with him and asked him to end his extended hunger strike.
"I will not enter my home until all Marathas are given reservation," activist Manoj Jarange Patil declared after ministers convinced him to break off his fast.
According to reports, Jarange wanted quota for Marathas throughout Maharashtra during negotiations with the government team. He sought "foolproof reservation" and requested assurance from the state administration.
A team led by retired high court justices Sandeep Shinde and M G Gaikwad, as well as authorities, met with Jarange, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike in his hamlet of Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district since October 25 in protest of the Maratha quota claim.
MLA Bachchu Kadu, a supporter of the governing coalition, was also there.
Manoj Jarange was informed by one of the ministers that the Maratha quota topic will be heard in the Maharashtra Legislature on December 8.
During the press conference on Thursday, Jarange urged that the government provide sufficient cash and send various teams to conduct an assessment of the Maratha community's economic and social backwardness.
He urged that a government decree awarding Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas be issued, with the phrase 'throughout' (Maharashtra) inserted.
The government has already begun the process of awarding Kunbi credentials to Marathas from the Marathwada area who can show historical records referring to themselves or their relatives as Kunbi. Kunbi, an agricultural group, is eligible for reservation under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.