Maratha activist Manoj Jarange continues hunger strike, urges Kunbi certificate applications

Synopsis

Manoj Jarange continues his hunger strike, refusing to end it until Maratha demands are met. He urged community members to apply for Kunbi caste certificates from September 4. Government ministers met with Jarange, assuring them of efforts to resolve issues. They stated that approximately 58 lakh Kunbi records have been identified. Jarange insists he will only break his fast after all community demands are accepted.

Jalna: Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange on Thursday refused to call off his indefinite hunger strike and urged members of the community to start applying for Kunbi caste certificates, after his talks with a delegation of Maharashtra ministers and legislators yielded no results.

Jarange has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati village in the district for the past six days, demanding reservation for the Marathas.

A government delegation of Ministers Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Uday Samant and MLC Prasad Lad and MLA Makarand Patil met Jarange.

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Vikhe Patil, who appealed to Jarange to end or postpone his fast in view of his deteriorating health, said the government was committed to resolving the issues of the Maratha community.

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The government had traced around 58 lakh Kunbi records and would expedite the issuance of Kunbi certificates. Nodal officers would be appointed to monitor the process and address difficulties faced by applicants, he said.

Jarange did not relent, but following the meeting, he appealed to Marathas to state submitting applications for Kunbi certificates from September 4, particularly on the basis of records traced in the Hyderabad Gazette.

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Kunbi, an agrarian community, falls in the Other Backward Class (OBC) category. Jarange has been seeking Kunbi certificates for eligible Marathas so that they can get reservation in the OBC quota.

He said around 58 lakh Kunbi records had been identified, and urged eligible families to initiate the process of obtaining Kunbi certificates and validity certificates.

Applications could be made on the basis of family relationships, blood relations and clan links with persons whose Kunbi records have been identified, Jarange said.

He also appealed to people facing difficulties in submitting applications to immediately approach the concerned district collector.

Despite the government's assurances, Jarange made it clear that he would not call off his hunger strike until all his demands were accepted.

"I will not withdraw my hunger strike until all the demands of the Maratha community are accepted. If Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde genuinely wants to support the Maratha community, he should take a sincere and concrete stand and extend his support," Jarange said.

"I will drink and take IV fluids, but I will not break my fast," he added.