Activist Manoj Jarange has declared his intention to commence a fast unto death protest starting on October 25, should the Maharashtra government not provide reservation to the Maratha community by the upcoming Tuesday. Addressing a press conference at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, Jarange said the Maratha community would not let political leaders, including MPs and MLAs, enter villages across the state until the reservation demand is met.
Jarange had observed a hunger strike in this village in September this year demanding that Marathas be granted reservation in government jobs and education under the OBC category. He had withdrawn the protest giving an ultimatum of 40 days till October 24 to the government for the grant of quota. If the Maharashtra government fails to take a decision on awarding reservation to the Maratha community by October 24, I will sit on fast-unto-death agitation. Locals and people from other villages will also launch a similar protest, Jarange said.
It is like a war being fought peacefully. I will declare the new directions on October 28. The government can’t afford the direction which I will show to the people, he added. Jarange said he would abstain from taking water and medical assistance during the fast. He said a chain hunger strike will be launched on October 25 which will manifest into a full-fledged hunger strike from October 28.
In every tehsil and village in the state, the Maratha community will organise candle marches, emphasising their commitment to non-violent demonstrations. 5 crore Marathas will participate in the protest. Jarange added. He also slammed Union minister Narayan Rane and Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam without taking their names for their purportedly anti-reservation statements.