Manoj Jarange Patil Ends 15-Day Hunger Strike, Extends Maratha Reservation Deadline

Manoj Jarange Patil, a prominent Maratha leader hailing from Jalna, Maharashtra, concluded his indefinite hunger strike, which had commenced on August 29. He granted the Maharashtra government a one-month timeframe to implement reservations for the Maratha community.

In response to the ongoing Maratha quota agitation, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde presided over an all-party meeting in Mumbai and announced the withdrawal of police cases filed against pro-Maratha reservation protesters in Jalna.

The all-party meeting, convened by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, aimed to address the continuing Maratha quota protests. This gathering took place against the backdrop of Manoj Jarange Patil's demand for a Government Resolution on reservations for Marathas in education and employment. The outcomes of this meeting included the following:

• CM and Deputy CMs implored Patil to halt his hunger strike. Shinde stated, "We conveyed our concerns to him through this resolution and emphasized that we are all deeply concerned about his health."
• Shinde emphasized that the state government is committed to ensuring that the decision regarding reservations withstands legal scrutiny and is not subject to cancellation.
• The decision to withdraw all cases against protesters during the Maratha reservation protest in Jalna district was announced.

Since 2014, Patil has engaged in multiple hunger strikes and marches to advocate for Maratha community reservations. However, most of his protests remained confined to Jalna district.

A fervent advocate for Maratha community reservations, Patil frequently joined delegations that met with various state politicians to seek reservations for the community. Notably, there exists a video of Patil amidst a multitude of Maratha activists attempting to convey the urgency of Maratha reservations to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in August of the previous year.

Although Patil's voice initially did not reach Shinde during the meeting, exactly a year later, the Chief Minister was compelled to contact Patil last week after he commenced a hunger strike, urging him to call off his agitation.

On September 29, Patil initiated a hunger strike in Jalna, alongside seven other activists, demanding reservations for the Maratha community. Patil reportedly disregarded the Chief Minister's suggestion to terminate his agitation.

Tensions escalated when a large police contingent arrived at the protest site, citing Patil's deteriorating health and the need to transfer him to a government hospital. However, Patil's supporters insisted on consulting a private doctor. Regrettably, violence erupted after the police were alleged to have forcibly intervened to take Patil into custody. Maratha activists contended that a significant number of protestors were subjected to police beatings.