Mumbai: Accusing the state government of not keeping their word on dismissing cases against Pro-Maratha reservation activists, Manoj Jarange-Patil, on Wednesday, announced that he is resuming his fast unto death agitation.
Jarange-Patil, who had been on fast in the month of August for 17 days, had given a 40-day window to the government to come up with a lasting solution to the Maratha reservation issue. The government should define a procedure to grant Kunbi caste certificates to all Marathas, he demanded. However, due to election code of conduct in Telangana, the old records couldn't be accessed and the process to devise the procedure was delayed. After the deadline was over on Dusserrah, Jarange-Patil resumed his fast at his village Antarwali Sarate in Jalna district today.
Girish Mahajan tries to dissuade Jarange-Patil over a call
"The time given by the Maratha community is over and hence I'm resuming the fast. During this fast I won't take water, medicines or even any kind of treatment," Jarange-Patil announced at a press conference in his village.
"I had started my fast on August 29 and withdrew it when CM Eknath Shinde came here to pursue me to withdraw it. He had sought a month's time. Today is the 41st day. Government doesn't seem to have moved in all these days. Hence I'm resuming fast," he added.
"We waited till the last moment. We were expecting some announcement last evening. But, nothing came in," he said, adding that the whole community feels disappointed today.
Rural development minister Girish Mahajan, in a telephonic conversation, tried to persuade Jarange-Patil to not go on fast immediately. "Some more time will be needed for a lasting reservation. You shouldn't put your life in danger for that. Government is committed to giving permanent reservation," Mahajan said.
Gave 10 more days than what govt asked for: Jarange-Patil
Jarange-Patil, however, said that the community had already given 10 more days to the government than what they had asked for. "You had been saying that the government was committed to permanent reservation even 40 days ago. But, the government didn't move. It didn't move even in the dismissing cases against Maratha activists. It appears that the government has decided not to withdraw cases till the agitation continues," he said leaving Mahajan's efforts futile.
Former MP Sambhaji Raje Bhosale had reached Jarange-Patil's village to persuade him not to go on fast. "He is dedicatedly doing this for the community. I can sense his sincerity and hence came here. However, he is suffering from kidney trouble due to repeated agitations. I'm here to support him as well as pursue him to at least have some water and medicines while continuing with the agitation," he said while interacting with the media.
