11 June,2024 02:10 PM IST | Jalna | mid-day online correspondent
Manoj Jarange addresses supporters on Friday/ Syyed Sameer Abedi
On Tuesday, activist Manoj Jarange refused to take intravenous fluids despite doctors' advice, as his indefinite fast for Maratha reservation entered its fourth day. Jarange is asking that Marathas be given OBC reservation and has launched a new hunger strike in his village, Antarwali Sarati, in central Maharashtra's Jalna district, reported PTI.
According to the report, a staff from the government rural hospital checked him in the morning. A doctor told the reporters that Maratha Quota activist Manoj Jarange's blood pressure and sugar levels were low, and he was instructed to get intravenous fluids. However, Jarange declined.
"It seems the government is least worried about our plight. The Maratha community will teach them a lesson," he told the reporters.
When asked about Maharashtra minister and OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal's claim that the Marathas' 10 per cent reservation would pass legal examination, Jarange responded that Bhujbal should not intervene, the report added.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange also demanded that Marathas be given Kunbi caste credentials. The Kunbis, an agrarian community, currently have OBC status.
Manoj Jarange, the Maratha quota activist, earlier on Monday warned that the Congress was speaking against the interests of the Maratha people and will face consequences in the next Maharashtra assembly elections, according to news agency PTI. Speaking to reporters on the third day of his indefinite fast at Antarwali Sarathi village in Jalna, Jarange reiterated his demand for the draft notification that recognises Kunbis as "sage soyare" (blood relatives) of Maratha community members, as well as a law to identify Kunbis as Marathas. Kalyan Kale, a newly elected Congress MP from Jalna, paid a visit to the village and met with Jarange on Monday.
Notably, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar had opposed reservation to the community from the share of the OBCs. Asked about Wadettiwar's comments, Jarange on Monday said, "The Congress took votes from the Maratha people in the recent Lok Sabha elections and now they are speaking against our interests. They will face the consequences in the Maharashtra assembly polls," reported PTI.
Jarange also urged that the Hyderabad Gazette be used to update Marathas' Kunbi records. He said that 57 lakh documents had been received proving that Marathas and Kunbis are the same. He also urged that the cases filed against demonstrators seeking Maratha quotas be dropped. Prior to this, the activist held an agitation over the quota issue from February 10 to 26.
