Maharashtra activist Jarange raises new demand, sits on hunger strike again

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil has commenced another hunger strike in Antarwali Sarathi village, Jalna district, Maharashtra. His grievances revolve around the lack of progress on his previous demands, which include issuing OBC certificates to 58 lakh Kunbi records, eliminating caste verification committees, and rescinding police cases against Maratha protesters.

This marks his eleventh hunger strike in the past three years. Patil has described the current fast as the decisive one to secure reservation for the community and has also called for withdrawing all legal actions against Maratha protesters. NCP Minister Chhagan Bhujbal disagreed with the scrapping of caste verification committees, stating that they are necessary to prevent people from seeking entry into castes with more benefits.

Advocate Gunaratna Sadavarte contested the demand to abolish caste verification certificates, claiming it was politically motivated due to the Chief Minister's non-Maratha background. Patil has warned the government that if their demands are not met, they will march to Mumbai to protest. Community members from multiple districts are en route to the protest site, responding to his call.

The government has bolstered security at the protest location. Babanrao Taywade, president of National OBC Mahasangh, contested Patil's claim of 58 lakh Kunbi certificates, stating that only around 49,000 new Kunbi records have been discovered in the Marathwada region since the 1950s.