​Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange ends hunger strike in 15 hours as govt accepts key demands

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Sunday called off his indefinite hunger strike within 15 hours of launching it, after late-night negotiations with state govt and acceptance of his key demands.

Jarange, however, added that the hunger strike had only been “suspended” after govt assured it would issue orders by Tuesday on a draft addressing his demands. “If they stop now, we will hold them responsible,” he said, referring to BJP minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and MLC Prasad Lad, who led the negotiations.

The breakthrough came after a fresh round of discussions late on Saturday night. The govt delegation resumed talks after initial consultations earlier in the day.

Under a 12-point draft, govt agreed to hand over documents of 58 lakh newly found Kunbi records and grant Kunbi caste certificates as per procedure, enabling access to OBC reservation benefits. It also assured that the divisional commissioner of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar will convene a meeting within 15 days to speed up caste verification. The state sought one more month to implement the Satara gazette. The committee, led by Justice Sandeep Shinde (retd), tasked with framing norms for Kunbi certificates for the Marathas, will get a one-year extension. Govt also agreed to set up helplines at district collector offices and a separate direct helpline under Vikhe Patil. A Maratha reservation cell at Mantralaya will also be created.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said govt has consistently taken the stand of providing justice to the Maratha community, and action has been taken accordingly. “All the assurances that Manoj Jarange has received are offered in front of the media. No assurance was given in hiding. Manoj Jarange has also read out the assurances we gave,” he said.

However, the move drew a sharp reaction from OBC leader Laxman Hake, who accused govt of buckling under pressure. “If any bogus (Kunbi) certificates are issued under pressure, we will attack the offices that issued such documents. We will not hesitate to take the law into our hands if govt succumbs to pressure,” he said.