Manoj Jarange Patil, who has emerged as a prominent figure in the Maratha quota protest movement, has recommenced his hunger strike following the expiration of a 40-day ultimatum he had given to the government.
On Sunday, the Maratha reservation activist, Manoj Jarange Patil, made a fervent plea to the authorities in Maharashtra, urging them to engage in discussions to deliberate on the community's demands.
Jarange has been resolutely advocating for the inclusion of the Maratha community in the category of Other Backward Classes (OBC) for the purpose of securing reservations in government jobs and educational institutions.
This call for a dialogue with the government has arisen in the midst of his second indefinite hunger strike, which was initiated on Wednesday after the lapse of the 40-day deadline that came to an end on October 24.
In his impassioned appeal, Jarange conveyed, "We invite you for a dialogue; the Maratha community will not impede your path in any manner. As long as I can communicate, I extend an invitation for dialogue. There is no merit in delaying it. Just inform me whether a discussion will be held or not."
Jarange further added, "The government, that is, the Maharashtra government, remains silent and unresponsive. We are prepared to wait until October 30-31. It seems that the government is lacking in empathy and understanding. We shall offer our response thereafter." He made these statements while clutching a microphone with trembling hands as he addressed the media on Sunday.
Medical professionals have reported a deteriorating state of health due to his ongoing hunger strike.
Concurrently, the Deputy Chief Minister of the state, Devendra Fadnavis, responded to Jarange's plea by asserting that "discussions cannot be conducted under the gaze of media cameras." He also implored Jarange's supporters to provide him with care and reassured them that the government is actively addressing the matter.
Fadnavis stated, "Those standing with Manoj Jarange must also ensure his well-being. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is personally overseeing the situation. Through the Chief Minister's office, every possible effort is being made to arrive at a fair and judicious decision. Therefore, I urge them to place their trust in Chief Minister Eknath Shinde."
