Jarange suspends fasting indefinitely over Maratha quota issue

Jalna: Maratha activist Manoj Jarange on Wednesday called off his indefinite hunger strike, which he began five days ago over the quota issue, saying members of his community wanted to keep him alive so that he could fight for the cause.

He announced the decision while addressing reporters in his home village of Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district of Maharashtra.

Jarange had started his latest hunger strike on July 20 to press for his demands, which include the implementation of the draft notification that recognises the Kunbis as ‘sage soyare’ (blood relatives) of members of the Maratha community and gives the latter a place in the Other Subordinate Classes (OBC) category.

The activist, who had refused intravenous fluids, agreed to do so as of Tuesday evening.

Speaking to reporters this morning, he said, “My community says they want me alive. There is tremendous pressure from the community. If I die, it would create a divide within the community. That is why I have decided to break my fast.” Jarange criticised BJP MP Pravin Darekar and Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, claiming that they are against reservation for the Maratha community.

This resistance could lead to the Maratha community turning away from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he said, pointing to possible consequences for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

He also appealed to the members of the Maratha community to defeat the BJP.

Jarange accused Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP politician Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the state’s Home Minister, of trying to implicate him in a false case.

This allegation comes after a Pune court issued a fresh non-bailable warrant in a 2013 cheating case. Dhananjay Ghorpade, the producer and director of the Marathi play ‘Shambhuraje’ (based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj), alleges that Jarange and his associates failed to pay Rs 13.21 lakh after organising six performances of the play in Jalna.

Jarange said he was ready to go to jail for presenting the life of Sambhaji Maharaj to the people.

“I am ready to die for the Maratha community…” he said.

He accused Fadnavis of playing low-level politics to bring his party to power by using the government machinery against its opponents.

He criticised the state government for its “discriminatory funding practices” and alleged that veteran social worker Appasaheb Dharamadhikari was allocated substantial funds but Maratha youth were denied financial assistance.

Jarange announced that Maratha community meetings will be held in various districts from August 7 to 13, followed by an important meeting on August 29 to decide the next course of action.