OBC activists in Maharashtra end fasting after 10 days

OBC quota activists Laxman Hake and Navnath Waghmare on Saturday ended their hunger strike on Sunday after meeting a delegation from the Maharashtra government. They warned the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led government that the protest would resume if their demands were not met.

The duo’s protest was aimed at ensuring that the quota for the other subordinate classes (OBC) remained intact and was a counter to pro-Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil’s demand for reservation for Marathas in the OBC category.

“We are temporarily suspending our protest. If our demands are not met, we will resume it,” Mr Hake said from the protest site in Wadigodri village in Jalna district.

He insisted that a ‘white paper’ be issued to address objections to the draft government notification proposing to issue Kunbi certificates to Marathas who have already proved their Kunbi status. Kunbis are an agricultural OBC community. This notification proposes to issue Kunbi certificates to Sage Soyare (Relatives) of Marathas who have already confirmed their Kunbi status.

The delegation, comprising 12 members including ministers Chhagan Bhujbal, Atul Save, Girish Mahajan, Dhananjay Munde, Uday Samant and Gopichand Padalkar, member of the Legislative Council, assured Mr Hake and Mr Waghmare that they would attend an all-party meeting on June 29 to discuss the quota issue.

Mr. Bhujbal reiterated that the OBC quota will remain unchanged and action will be taken against the issuance of fake Kunbi certificates to some Marathas. He said the Maratha community should seek separate reservations in government jobs and education instead of claiming OBC status, stressing that reservations are meant to fight social backwardness and not poverty.

He also praised his cabinet colleague and BJP leader Girish Mahajan for his assertion that the draft notification on Sage Soyare lacked legal force.

Earlier in the day, OBC members in Beed blocked the Ahmednagar Highway by setting tyres on fire. They took to the streets and insisted that their reservation rights be preserved.

Earlier this week, Mr Hake and Mr Waghmare alleged that Maratha youths were ending their lives because of the confusion created by Mr Jarange-Patil. They also accused Chief Minister Shinde of ignoring their protest on behalf of OBCs.

In February this year, the Maharashtra Parliament unanimously passed a bill giving the Maratha community a separate category with 10% share in education and jobs. However, the community is demanding a quota for the OBC group.