Ahead of a planned peaceful march in Mumbai over the demand for Maratha reservation, activist Manoj Jarange Patil has alleged a conspiracy to kill him.
Addressing supporters and media at the protest site in Antarwali Sarati village in Maharashtra's Jalna district on the 16th day of his hunger strike, Jarange claimed that sending people associated with ruling parties to the march could create chaos and that he could be targeted.
He said, "There's a conspiracy to kill me and create trouble during the march. I won't bow to any pressure," adding, "I will accept death but will not bow down."
The march is scheduled after eight days, and the government has the same amount of time to resolve the issue. He warned that his supporters could politically challenge some ministers. Taking potshots at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, alleging that those in power were conspiring against him.
Jarange claimed that plans to kill him were being made to create trouble in Mumbai. In a sharp warning, the Maratha quota activist said, "We will have to respond when someone steps on the tail of a snake."
Jarange had announced on Saturday that he would leave for Mumbai with his supporters on September 15 and begin an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan in the state capital from September 19 to demand reservation for the Maratha community in jobs and education.
Earlier today, Jarange claimed that some of the ruling dispensation's Maratha MLAs had called his supporters asking them not to participate in the event.
Making an emotional appeal, he called upon his supporters to march to Mumbai and if needed, his funeral procession.
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"I will reach Mumbai on September 19 and sit on a hunger strike at Azad Maidan at 10 am. We believe in the law and the judiciary," he added.
(With PTI Inputs)