OBC Activists End Week-Long Fast After Manoj Jarange Concludes His Indefinite Hunger Strike

Two activists, Laxman Hake and Navnath Waghmare, ended their week-long hunger strike on Wednesday. They had been fasting in Jalna to protect the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota. This decision came shortly after Manoj Jarange, a Maratha quota protester, concluded his indefinite fast. Hake and Waghmare's protest was a response to Jarange's demands, which they considered unconstitutional.

Hake and Waghmare had been fasting at Wadigodri village, just 2 km from Antarwali Sarati village in Maharashtra's Jalna district. This is where Jarange ended his nine-day hunger strike for Maratha reservation on Wednesday afternoon. Their protest aimed to counter Jarange's push for Maratha reservation under the OBC category.

OBC Activists Criticise Government

Speaking to reporters at Wadigodri, Hake criticised the state government led by Mahayuti. He stated, "Maharashtra is not being run by the rule of the mob. If we had not resorted to a counter fast, the government would have implemented Jarange's demands." He accused sand mafia and anti-social elements of backing Jarange's movement.

Hake also targeted political figures like Sharad Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party and former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan of Congress. He accused them of engaging in caste-based politics and supporting the Maratha quota protester. Hake stressed that their protest stopped Chief Minister Eknath Shinde from favouring Jarange's demands.

Political Implications

Hake warned that OBC community voters would remember those supporting Maratha reservation during the assembly elections expected in November. He emphasised that their actions were crucial in preventing any hasty decisions by the government regarding Maratha reservations.

Jarange has been advocating for implementing draft notifications from historical gazettes of Hyderabad, Satara, and Bombay. These documents classify Marathas as Kunbis, an agrarian community eligible for OBC reservation benefits.

The situation highlights ongoing tensions between different community groups over reservation policies in Maharashtra. The outcome of these protests could influence future political dynamics in the state.