Maratha Activist Manoj Jarange Ends Fast Following Agreement on Quota Demands
mumbai - Activist Manoj Jarange concluded a five-day hunger strike Tuesday at Azad Maidan in Mumbai after the Maharashtra government agreed to key demands regarding Maratha community reservations, including a process for issuing Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Marathas.Jarange broke his fast by accepting fruit juice from Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, a senior BJP minister and head of the state cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation, alongside other panel members. The protest at Azad Maidan, which began on August 29th, saw a jubilant response from supporters as Jarange ended his fast, visibly emotional at the outcome. He was later transported by ambulance for a medical check-up.
The agreement followed a meeting between Jarange and the cabinet sub-committee, resulting in a government resolution (GR) detailing the procedure for identifying and certifying Marathas as Kunbis – an agrarian Other Backward Class (OBC) caste.
The GR establishes a dedicated committee to oversee the issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas who can demonstrate lineage through documentary evidence. Verification will utilize historical references from the Hyderabad gazetteer and be conducted at the village level by teams comprised of gram sevaks, talathis (revenue officials), and assistant agriculture officers.
To prove Kunbi ancestry, individuals will need to present documentation, such as land records, dated before November 21, 1961.
Jarange initially began his fast on August 29th, advocating for a 10% reservation for the Maratha community in both education and government jobs under the OBC category. He declared the agreement a victory for the community and reiterated his demands were met. Following the declaration, he underwent a medical evaluation at a hospital.
