Maratha Quota Activist Manoj Jarange Patil Hospitalized After Health Deteriorates During Hunger Strike

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who has been at the forefront of the agitation for quota rights, was admitted to Galaxy Hospital late Tuesday night after his health collapsed on the fifth day of his hunger strike in Mumbai. Doctors immediately shifted him to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and have recommended at least two weeks of complete rest.

Jarange’s convoy reached Agnihotra Chowk around 1 a.m. on Wednesday, where a massive crowd of supporters had gathered. Slogans of “Patil, Patil, Patil” and “Ek Maratha, Lakh Maratha” echoed through the streets, even as he appeared visibly frail and unable to speak. Many followers showered flowers and lit fireworks as he was taken inside the hospital.

Medical teams attending to him said his prolonged fast had caused critically low sugar levels, erratic blood pressure, and extreme weakness. “When we tried to insert an IV, locating his veins was extremely difficult. His overall condition remains fragile, and he requires at least 15 days of rest,” said Dr. Govind Chaure, as reported by Lokmat Times.

The activist’s indefinite fast had drawn lakhs of Marathas in support across Maharashtra, with growing pressure on the state government to respond. Tensions eased somewhat after Jarange agreed to withdraw his strike, following the government’s announcement to implement the Hyderabad Gazette for Maratha reservation benefits. The move is expected to extend quota rights to the economically weaker sections of the community.