Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil wants a joint hunger strike from January 25

Manoj Jarange-Patil | Photo Credit: ANI

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil announced on Tuesday (December 17, 2024) that he would start an indefinite fast from January 25 in Maharashtra’s Jalna district, demanding reservation in jobs and education under the OBC category of the Maratha community. Mr. Jarange-Patil called for a collective hunger strike and urged the masses to join him in his hometown of Antarwali Sarati in Jalna.

Mr. Jarange-Patil chose January 25 to start her seventh hunger strike to mark one year of the ‘Sage Soyre’ demand. ‘Sage Soyre’ means to recognize all the blood relatives of the members of the Maratha community as Kunbis (agricultural group). “If the government does not fulfill all our demands before January 25, it will have to face the consequences; we will bring the government to its knees,” said Mr. Jarange-Patil.

After withdrawing from the parliamentary election conference on 4 November, Mr. Jarange Patil is all set to join the newly formed government. In this regard, the activist called for a joint hunger strike and said to go to Mumbai if necessary. “All the members of the community who joined me in Sarati came prepared to Mumbai as well,” said Mr. Jarange Patil, also added that Maratha should show their unity.

Urging people to join him in the January 25 strike, Mr. Jarange Patil ordered people to hold meetings in the area and form a large network. He also asked the Maratha community workers to print invitations and go door to door inviting people to participate in the protest. “This may be the last time, as my health no longer supports hunger. I want you to participate and take this forward, so I urge all Marathas to come with their relatives to support you.”

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Meanwhile, Chhagan Bhujbal, a legislator from Yeola in Nashik district, said that his stand with activist Manoj Jarange Patil did not put him in the Cabinet. “I represented the community of Other Backward Classes when the Maratha quota activist wanted to be included in the OBC category,” said the prominent OBC leader Mr. Bhujbal.