Patoda, Beed, September 16 (Daily Kiran) : Activist Manoj Jarange Patil, a prominent figure in the Maratha reservation movement, addressed a large gathering in Patoda, Beed, at 2:00 AM on September 16. He expressed concern that extreme physical fatigue might force him to cancel his planned journey to Mumbai.
On the 18th day of his hunger strike, Jarange Patil warned that if supporters continued to follow him in large numbers, he might halt his journey and either initiate a local protest or return to Antarwali Sarati.
Despite arriving at the event around 1:30 AM, thousands from the Maratha community, including many women, waited all night to hear him speak. Appearing physically weakened, Jarange Patil revealed that he has struggled to move since halting IV fluids on September 12. He stated, “Fighting for the children of my community has taken a toll on my body, but I have stood up to the government for you all. The government wants me to give in, but should I abandon my demands? My community is larger than any government – it is like my father. We have the power to bring down any government and establish a new one.”
He shared updates on the movement, noting that 5.8 million old records had been uncovered, paving the way for approximately 25 million community members to benefit from reservations. He emphasized that obtaining a government gazette remains the primary goal.
Jarange Patil directly criticized Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, claiming he has countered political maneuvers at every turn. He also accused Fadnavis of plotting against his life. Responding to arguments from fruit orchard owners in Western Maharashtra, he questioned, “The government claims there are fruit orchards in Western Maharashtra, but don’t OBC communities have orchards too? Why then do they receive reservations?”
He declared that conducting rallies or tours during his indefinite hunger strike is not feasible. He urged supporters not to follow his vehicle from Patoda, but to meet him directly in Khopoli. Otherwise, he warned, he might return to Antarwali or resume his hunger strike in Patoda.
In a message to his family, Jarange Patil stated, “I have asked my family to live with dignity. I told my son that if I sacrifice my life for society, he should carry on with courage. Even if one life is lost for this cause, our community’s dignity must never diminish.”
He expressed a desire to speak directly to the police and mentioned that if his health improves, he would prefer to go directly to Mumbai from Patoda, without a large crowd accompanying him.
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