Maharashtra News Today: Activist Manoj Jarange, who started the movement for Maratha reservation, demanded that the community be classified as Kunbi under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. In this regard, he has announced to start an indefinite fast from midnight on Monday (September 16).
This will be Manoj Jarange’s sixth hunger strike in a year. Addressing the media at Antarwali Sarti village in Jalna district, the epicentre of the Maratha reservation agitation, Jarange demanded that the government implement the historic gazettes of the erstwhile Hyderabad province, ‘Bombay Presidency’ and Satara Samsthan, which he claimed recognised Marathas as Kunbis (agricultural community).
‘There is no option other than hunger strike’
Manoj Jarange said, “I have no option other than fast unto death for these demands. I have no option other than ensuring the defeat of the ruling party candidates in the upcoming assembly elections.”
Meanwhile, OBC reservation activist Navnath Waghmare has warned that if Jarange goes on a hunger strike, he will begin a hunger strike from Tuesday.
Jarange reiterated his allegations against Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state minister Chhagan Bhujbal. He alleged that “Fadnavis is creating obstacles in giving reservation to the Maratha community. Chhagan Bhujbal is trying to incite riots in the state at the behest of Fadnavis by instigating OBCs against Maratha reservation.”
When did Jarange go on hunger strike?
Manoj Jarange has extended his support to the demand for inclusion of the Dhangar community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category. Jarange had earlier held hunger strikes on different dates on August 29 and October 25 last year in 2023 and February 10, June 4 and July 20 in 2024.
Waghmare accused of drama
On the other hand, Navnath Waghmare has accused Jarange of doing ‘drama’ in the name of fast. Navnath Waghmare and his colleague Laxman Heke are against giving reservation to Marathas under OBC category.