'Marathas Will Turn Maharashtra Into Lanka If I...’: Jarange As His Health Deteriorates Amid Indefinite Fast

Maratha Quota activist Manoj Jarange issued a stern warning to the state government remarking that Maharashtra would be turned into Lanka if he died amid his indefinite fast.

File photo of Maratha Quota activist Manoj Jarange

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Maratha Quota activist, Manoj Jarange's health deteriorated as he entered the fifth day of his Indefinite fast on Wednesday. Despite evident signs of deteriorating health, Jarange has adamantly refused medical examination, an activist close to him said, as per news agency PTI.

Jarange has been observing the indefinite fast from his native village of Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district, Maharashtra. His demand for the inclusion of the Maratha community into the Other Backward Class (OBC) grouping has pushed him to risk his health.

From the protest site, Jarange issued a stern warning to the state government, drawing parallels to the mythical narrative of Lord Hanuman setting Lanka ablaze. Jarange warned the government saying, "In Ramayana, Lord Hanuman set Lanka on fire with the tail. If I die during my protest, the Marathas will turn Maharashtra into Lanka", as quoted by PTI.

"Jarange's indefinite fast has entered the fifth day and his health is deteriorating. His nose is bleeding, but he is not letting doctors examine him. He is neither consuming water not taking his medicines", activist Kishor Markad told PTI while talking about his health condition.

Jarange demands for a special session of the Maharashtra legislature to transform the draft notification regarding 'blood relatives' of Kunbi Marathas into law, as per PTI.

The activist appealed to his community members to observe a peaceful 'bandh' called by the Maratha outfits in Jalna on Wednesday. Jarange also threatened that no public meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be allowed to be held in Maharashtra, reported PTI.

Jarange accused Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar of betraying the Maratha community by failing to implement the draft notification.

Jarange alleged that Ajit Pawar supports NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who opposes the inclusion of Marathas in the OBC category. This is the fourth time in less than a year that Jarange has been observing a hunger strike demanding the inclusion of the Maratha community into the OBC grouping, as per PTI.

Maratha Agitation: Bandh In Maharashtra’s Beed District Peaceful, Say Police

A bandh organized in Maharashtra's Beed district to support Maratha activist Manoj Jarange's agitation has unfolded peacefully, according to a statement from a senior police official, cited by PTI. Superintendent of Police Nandkumar Thakur remarked, "The bandh has been peaceful and has seen a success rate of 70-80 percent until noon."

Thakur disclosed that he had held a prior meeting with relevant leaders, stressing the importance of maintaining peace. Consequently, schools in Beed city and various markets across the district remained closed, reported PTI.

Notably, market areas such as Subhash Road, Dhondipura, and Bajarpeth in Beed City were reported to be shut, with no untoward incidents occurring in the district thus far. Thakur said some police stations in the district had received letters from Maratha outfits about their plan to call for a bandh, as per PTI.