New Delhi: Activist Manoj Jarange on Wednesday launched an indefinite fast to press for the demand for Maratha quota in educational institutions and government jobs, reported news agency PTI.
40-year-old Jarange began his stir at his native Antarwali Sarati village after the 40-day deadline he had set before the Maharashtra government to provide reservation to the community came to an end. He said he gave ample time to the government and would not wait any longer now.
According to PTI, he accused Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of inciting certain individuals against the Maratha community over its "rightful demand", and claimed that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was being pressured by someone to deny reservation to Marathas.
Speaking to reporters during the fast, he said, "I had given the government a 40-day ultimatum to fulfil its promise regarding Maratha reservation...That period is over...No decision was taken by the government. Its lack of response left me with no choice but to resort to this extreme form of protest." "Maharashtra chief minister had asked me to wait for 40 days so that the government takes a decision on Maratha reservation. But he did not do it, therefore I have decided to start a fast-unto-death in my village," he said.
He further stated, "I have put my life at stake. I am not afraid of death. All the hard-working Marathas are behind me. Did we indulge in any wrongdoing as the government is not listening to us? What we are demanding is our right and within the constitutional framework. Maratha families are suffering a lot. We are not even making it an emotional issue."
Earlier in September, Jarange had observed a hunger strike in the same village demanding that the Maratha community be granted reservation in government jobs and education under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. However, the protest, which began on August 29, was called off on September 14 after CM Shinde held talks with him, reported PTI.
At that time, Jarange had set a 40-day deadline (till October 24) before the government for the grant of quota.
Speaking on the violence that had broken out during his hunger strike at that time, Jarange said, "I was told that the police cases filed against the Maratha community protesters across the state would be withdrawn within two days. Forty-one days have elapsed since this assurance was given, but not a single case has been withdrawn. It means the state is deliberately misleading the Maratha community."
He further stated that the promise of giving compensation or jobs to the family members of those who committed suicide for the Maratha reservation cause has also not been fulfilled so far.
"I want to say that the government is responsible for all the deaths of Maratha youths who died by suicide over the quota demand. There is no one to take care of their family members. The state government should give Rs 50 lakh financial assistance as well as government jobs to their kin," Jarange said.
Talking to reporters, Jarange said, "The government is inciting certain individuals against the Maratha community's rightful demands. CM Eknath Shinde was being pressured by someone to deny reservation to Marathas. But the CM should not succumb to these pressures. If CM Shinde gives reservation to Marathas, the community will hold him in high regard."
During his Dussehra rally speech in Mumbai on Tuesday, CM Shinde said, "Without doing injustice to anyone and without withdrawing (reservation of anyone), this government will provide a quota to the Maratha community that will last permanently."
Shinde added that since he is from an ordinary Maratha family, he understands their pain and sorrow.
It is to be noted that the politically influential Maratha community constitutes around 30 per cent of the state's population.