Quota activist begins indefinite hunger strike, accuses Maharashtra CM of 'grudge'

Quota activist Manoj Jarange launched an indefinite hunger strike on Saturday in Antarwali Sarati village, Jalna district, escalating his demand for Maratha reservation benefits. Jarange directly accused Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of holding a "grudge" against the Maratha community and alleged that Deputy CM Eknath Shinde is providing covert support to this stance.

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Devendra Fadnavis holds a grudge against the Maratha community, and Eknath Shinde is providing covert support through Minister of Social Justice Sanjay Shirsat.

Before commencing his fast, Jarange addressed reporters, demanding the dissolution of the caste verification committee. He issued a stern warning: if the government fails to resolve all pending quota issues, he will lead a march to the Chief Minister's residence in Mumbai. "If they don't resolve our issues, we will go to Varsha Bungalow. If the government team comes to talk, we will talk to them. But this is my final agitation... I will not get up till all the issues are resolved," Jarange stated.

Jarange has been at the forefront of agitations seeking to have eligible Marathas recognized as Kunbis, an agrarian community eligible for reservation benefits under the Other Backward Class (OBC) category. This latest hunger strike is part of a series of nine such protests since August-September 2023, all aimed at securing Maratha reservation under the OBC umbrella.

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If they don't resolve our issues, we will go to Varsha Bungalow. If the government team comes to talk, we will talk to them. But this is my final agitation... I will not get up till all the issues are resolved.

Expressing deep frustration over what he perceives as systemic bias, Jarange claimed the state government is actively hindering the progress of Maratha youth. He alleged that officials are "jealous of the community's progress" and arbitrarily reject valid historical records submitted for caste verification. "The government is trying to deny us certificates by rejecting documentary evidence even when it matches," he said, advocating for the abolition of the separate verification committee and uniform application of laws across states.

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This government does not want the Maratha community to grow.

Jarange emphasized that the core aim of the protest is to secure the future of Maratha youth, ensuring they have equal opportunities for advancement. He urged the community to ensure their children become officers to overcome future hurdles, underscoring the long-standing struggle for equitable access to education and government jobs.

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There should be no caste verification process in the state. In other states, Tehsildars and Sub-Divisional Magistrates hold authority, so why do we need a separate verification committee here? The law must be uniform.