Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Sunday called off his indefinite hunger strike within 15 hours of launching it, following late-night negotiations with the state government and acceptance of his key demands.
Jarange, however, clarified that the hunger strike had only been “suspended” after the government 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 government delegation resumed talks after initial consultations earlier in the day.
Key Agreements in the 12-Point Draft
Under the 12-point draft, the government 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. The government 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's Assurance
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the government 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.
OBC Leader's Reaction
However, the move drew a sharp reaction from OBC leader Laxman Hake, who accused the government 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 the government succumbs to pressure,” he said.
