Maratha Quota: Manoj Jarange's Hunger Strike Continues Amid Meetings

Mumbai, Sep 2 (PTI) Maharashtra's Special Inspector General of Police, Manojkumar Sharma, met with Cabinet Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil on Tuesday. Vikhe Patil is responsible for leading the cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation. This meeting coincided with the fifth day of activist Manoj Jarange's protest for Maratha quota inclusion.

The discussion was of particular importance as the Bombay High Court was set to hear a petition later that day regarding the ongoing demonstration at Azad Maidan, located in south Mumbai.

As the Special Inspector General of Police for law and order, Sharma visited Vikhe Patil at his official residence. However, further details of their conversation were not disclosed.

Manoj Jarange has been undertaking an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan since August 29. He demands the Maratha community be recognized as Kunbis, which would allow them to be eligible for benefits under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota.

In support of his demands, Jarange has called for the inclusion of references from the Hyderabad and Satara gazetteers to substantiate the Maratha community's claims.

Firm in his resolve, Jarange declared he would not leave Mumbai until his demands were fulfilled, despite the police issuing notices for him and his supporters to vacate Azad Maidan.

On Monday, the Bombay High Court heard a plea related to the protest. It remarked on the disruption caused, noting that the city was "literally paralyzed" and that the protest had violated imposed conditions.

The court provided an opportunity for Jarange and his supporters by directing that all streets be vacated and cleaned by Tuesday noon.

The court identified Jarange's hunger strike as a "clear threat" and questioned the government's inaction in clearing the roads.

Jarange has been a key figure in the Maratha quota agitation for several years, previously staging a fast-unto-death in his native Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district to demand Kunbi certificates for Marathas.

The government established a sub-committee headed by Vikhe Patil to address the issue, engaging in several discussions with Jarange. Nonetheless, the activist insists that all Marathas should be granted Kunbi status to ensure their inclusion in the OBC quota without legal challenges.

Last year, the Maharashtra legislature unanimously passed a bill granting a 10 percent reservation to the Maratha community under a separate category. Jarange rejected this legislation, arguing that it wouldn't endure judicial scrutiny and reiterated his demand for OBC quota benefits.

The agitation has often disrupted day-to-day life across various parts of the state, with significant gatherings and road blockades evident during earlier phases of the protests.

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