‘No water, no treatment’: Jarange-Patil escalates fight for Maratha reservation

Manoj Jarange-Patil has refused even water and medical treatment as his indefinite hunger strike for Maratha reservation entered its eighth day, sharply escalating his confrontation with Maharashtra’s government.

The activist made the decision late Friday night, accusing the government of failing to honour assurances within the promised deadline. “I will accept no medical intervention until the government implements my demands for Maratha reservation on the ground. There will be no treatment until there is action,” he said.

Jarange-Patil is demanding that authorities immediately begin issuing Kunbi caste certificates, including to people whose applications for Other Backward Classes certificates were rejected. He has also refused medical examinations and barred doctors from assessing his condition.

He began the hunger strike on August 29 at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district and gave the government two days to act. Large numbers of Maratha supporters from across Maharashtra have gathered at the site.

On September 2, Jarange-Patil agreed to drink water and accept intravenous fluids after BJP legislator Prasad Lad, regarded as close to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, promised that the government would address the community’s demands before September 17. Lad also said the process for issuing Kunbi certificates under the Hyderabad Gazette would begin on September 3.

A government delegation later met Jarange-Patil, but he refused to withdraw the strike. The standoff has already spread beyond the protest site. Supporters blocked major state and national highways and enforced shutdowns in Beed, Latur and Dharashiv, raising pressure on the government to resolve the dispute before his health deteriorates further.

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I will accept no medical intervention until the government implements my demands for Maratha reservation on the ground. There will be no treatment until there is action.