X: @the_news_21
Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil announced the end of his hunger strike on Monday, citing health concerns and alleged curfew restrictions imposed to deter his supporters from reaching Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna, Maharashtra.
Expressing his decision to reporters in Antarwali Sarati, Jarange stated that he would undergo treatment for a few days before embarking on a statewide tour. His hunger strike, which lasted 17 days, was aimed at advocating for Maratha reservation rights.
However, Jarange affirmed his commitment to the cause by declaring that he would sustain the protest through a relay agitation until the government fulfills the demands of the Maratha community. He emphasized the necessity of including the clause regarding the inclusion of sage soyare (relatives) in the reservation policy.
This decision follows Jarange’s accusations against Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, whom he accused of conspiring against him. He also alleged that some of his estranged colleagues were leveling accusations at him under Fadnavis’s influence. Responding to these claims, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar urged Jarange to exercise restraint when discussing government officials.
In response, Fadnavis remarked that Jarange’s rhetoric increasingly resembled that of political opposition parties, indicating growing tension between the activist and government figures.
As Jarange transitions from his hunger strike to a relay agitation, the Maratha community’s demands for reservation rights remain a focal point in Maharashtra’s political landscape.
