Mumbai, September 17 (Daily Kiran) : Activist Manoj Jarange Patil announced the suspension of his 20-day hunger strike on Thursday following discussions with a government delegation. This decision comes amid ongoing protests advocating for Maratha reservation rights.
The delegation included prominent figures such as Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, legislators Prasad Lad and Suresh Dhas, along with the district collector of Beed. After the meeting, Jarange Patil granted the government a 90-day deadline to implement the Satara Gazette.
He warned that if the government fails to meet these demands, he and his supporters would march to Mumbai. Despite suspending the hunger strike, he emphasized that the movement would continue.
Jarange Patil insisted that the 5.8 million Kunbi records identified by the Shinde Committee should remain intact. He offered assistance in locating these records and criticized the committee for not taking action, asserting that the fight would persist until their goals are achieved.
He expressed that ignoring the Maratha community is unacceptable. While acknowledging the mistakes of Minister Vikhe Patil, he urged people to treat him with respect. He also noted that officials who previously avoided dialogue were now willing to engage, highlighting that the dignity of the community is more crucial than reservation.
The government delegation provided several assurances, including the issuance of a government proposal within three months to implement the Satara, Kolhapur, Pune, and Aundh Gazettes. They also committed to revising the GR for issuing Kunbi certificates in accordance with the Hyderabad Gazette and ensuring the validity of previously issued certificates.
Jarange Patil clarified that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde are not his enemies, but he feels cornered when attacked. He called for competent officials to assist in finding the Kunbi records and warned that any attempts by the government to delay would result in ongoing protests. He specifically requested the reinstatement of four canceled certificates from Marathwada and urged Fadnavis to address key points publicly via a press conference or video statement.
During the discussions, Minister Vikhe Patil mentioned that the Satara Gazette report spans 1,100 pages and would require three to four months for thorough examination. He assured that there would be no hindrance to the pending GR related to the Hyderabad Gazette in court.
Jarange Patil questioned why the Maratha community continues to be overlooked and reiterated the need for immediate implementation of the Satara, Kolhapur, Pune, and Aundh Gazettes. He referenced a recent GR that stated that Hindu Vani, Hindu Vaishya, and Vaishya Vani are the same community, suggesting a similar declaration for “Maratha and Kunbi.”
BJP legislator Prasad Lad noted that Jarange Patil ended his hunger strike at the request of Chief Minister Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Shinde, and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar. The government has pledged to fulfill its promises within the next 90 days.
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