Activist restarts hunger strike over Maratha quota demand

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil on Wednesday resumed his indefinite hunger strike demanding reservation for the community under the other backward classes (OBC) category, a day after his 40-day deadline to the Maharashtra government to take step on the demand ended.

- Surendra P Gangan

Jarange-Patil, who restarted the agitation at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, rejected the state government's proposal to defer the protest, saying it "did not keep its promises" made when he called off his earlier stir on September 14. He said Marathas from over 2,400 villages have joined the agitation.

A farmer from Jalna, JarangePatil has demanded that members of the Maratha community from Marathwada region be given Kunbi certificates to avail benefits of reservation in government jobs and educational institutions under the OBC category.

Kunbis, a sub-caste of Marathas, are recognised as OBCs.

Earlier in the day, rural development minister Girish Mahajan reached out to the activist before he restarted his protest at 11 am.