Activist Manoj Jarange ended his five-day hunger strike at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on Tuesday after the Maharashtra government accepted several of his key demands about Maratha Reservations. These demands included the issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Marathas.
Manoj Jarange break fast with juice after Maratha Reservations fulfilled
Jarange accepted a glass of fruit juice offered by senior BJP minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who leads the cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation. Other members of the panel were also present at Azad Maidan, where Jarange had been protesting since August 29. This marked the end of his fast.
The 43-year-old activist was emotional after breaking the fast as his supporters cheered at the protest site. He later left Azad Maidan in an ambulance for a medical check-up.
The breakthrough came after a meeting between Jarange and the state cabinet sub-committee. Soon after the discussions, the government issued a resolution that outlined the process to identify and certify Marathas as Kunbis, an agrarian OBC caste.
Maharashtra CM fulfill most of demands
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed Jarange’s decision to end his hunger strike over the Maratha Reservations. He said that the government acted in the community’s interest through a fair resolution.
Speaking to the media, Fadnavis reiterated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of the Maratha community. “Our goal was to deliver justice to the Marathas. I thank Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, along with Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and the cabinet sub-committee, for their efforts in resolving the issue,” he said.
The CM explained that caste certificates would be issued to individuals, not to the entire community, and noted that the process would undergo legal review. “We have clearly communicated the legal challenges involving Jarange’s demands. While there is some misunderstanding among OBCs regarding Maratha reservations,” Fadnavis said.
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