- Manoj Jarange Patil ended his hunger strike
- He gave three months time to state government
- Will continue to fight for my community: Patil
Maharashtra News: Manoj Jarange Patil, the Maratha reservation activist, ended his 20-day-old hunger strike on Thursday, citing health concerns, reported news agency PTI. While addressing a crowd in Beed district around 2 am, Patil gave the Maharashtra government a deadline of three months to consider his demands. Jarange stated that his health has severely deteriorated, adding that covering a large distance with thousands of supporters would be exhausting.
Will Continue This Fight: Patil
Jarange stated that he has been unable to do basic functions due to weakness, especially after stopping IV fluids on September 12. He further urged the Maratha supporters to not follow his vehicle, adding that he would resume his sit-in if they did not listen. The activist further stated that he has taken on the state government for his community, adding that he will not stop until the demands are addressed.
"Fighting for the children of my community has taken a toll on my body, but I have taken on the government for you. The government wants me to surrender, but should I abandon our demand? My community is greater than any government - it is my father. My community holds the power to bring down any government and install a new one," Patil asserted.
'Government's Logic Baseless'
While responding to the government's claims that the community owns fruit orchards in the western Maharashtra, Patil argued that the orchards are owned by the OBC communities as well, further defining the logic as baseless. "The government claims Western Maharashtra has fruit orchards, but don't OBC communities own orchards too? Why do they have a reservation then?" Jarange Patil asked.
The activist further pointed out that the movement has gained momentum after 58 lakh archival records have been recovered, adding that the record can benefit 2.5 crore people of the Maratha community. Earlier, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had urged Patil not to hold a large-scale protest in Mumbai.