Activist Manoj Jarange Launches Fresh Stir Over Maratha Quota Demand, Begins Fast Unto Death

Activist Manoj Jarange began an indefinite hunger strike on Saturday and stated that he would contest Maharashtra Assembly elections if the Maratha reservation is not provided.

Activist Manoj Jarange began an indefinite hunger strike on Saturday and stated that he would contest Maharashtra Assembly elections if the Maratha reservation is not provided. ( Image Source :PTI )

Launching yet another stir over the Maratha reservation, activist Manoj Jarange Patil started an indefinite hunger strike on Saturday without the required permission from the police. Jarange warned that if the Maratha reservation is not provided this time, he would contest the Maharashtra Assembly elections.

The fast was started by him in a bid to demand the implementation of the draft notification that recognises all blood relatives of Maratha community members as 'Kunbis'. In addition to this, he has also been demanding the Other Bakward Community tag for the Marathas.

Besides this he also sought framing of a law to identify Kunbis as Marathas, and warned of fielding candidates from all 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra in the upcoming assembly polls, in case his demands were not approved.

The hunger strike was launched by him at his native Antarwali Sarati village in Ambad tehsil of Maharashtra's Jalna district around 10.30 am, despite the district administration and the police authorities not granting him permission for it, news agency PTI reported.

Kunbi is an agrarian group, which falls under the OBC category, and the activist has been demanding Marathas should be issued Kunbi certificates to make them eligible for quota benefits.

"I will not give up until the Maratha reservation is granted, Jarange, the face of the quota agitation," the Maratha quota activist asserted.

He also accused the Maharashtra government of trying to stall his protest by inciting the residents of Antarwali Sarati.

According to the PTI report, a memorandum was submitted to the district administration by section of villagers, urging the authorities to not grant him permission to protest in the village, due to a potential threat to communal harmony.

Urging Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to address the issue, Jarange said if the demand for Maratha reservation is not fulfilled, "I will field candidates from various communities from all 288 assembly segments in the state in the upcoming state elections," adding that he would personally "stay away from electoral politics."

Jarange said that the draft notification on the 'sage soyare' (blood relatives) of the Kunbi Marathas should be implemented and a law regarding the same should be framed in order to identify Kunbis as Marathas.

He added that the Maratha community will hold CM Shinde and deputy CM Fadnavis in high regard if the reservation demand is met, PTI reported.