MUMBAI, Jan. 27, 2024 (TBINN)
Activist Manoj Jarange today called off his indefinite fast over Maratha Quota Issue after the government accepted his demands, with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announcing that till Marathas get reservation, they will be given all the benefits enjoyed by the O.B.C.s.
Manoj Jarange launched his fast at Vashi in Navi Mumbai, a satellite city of Mumbai, on Friday, in the presence of thousands of his supporters.
Earlier, Manoj set out on a protest march from his native Antarwali Sarati Village in Jalna Jistrict last Saturday. The 40-year-old activist planned to stage a hunger-strike at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai from January 26, 2024.
On Friday morning, the protesters reached Vashi, where they made an overnight halt there in view of Mumbai Police issuing a notice to Manoj Jarange, saying no ground in the city could accommodate the large number of agitators.
During his address on Friday, Manoj warned that he and his supporters would enter Mumbai on Saturday for their planned protest at Azad Maidan Ground if their demands were not met by night. The government tried to persuade Manoj not to proceed to Mumbai, sending delegations to hold talks with him.
At night, the government came out with a draft ordinance over the demands. Chief Minister Eknath held meetings with officials to discuss Manoj Jarange’s demands and sent a delegation at night with a draft ordinance to meet the activist.
Today morning, it also issued a notification to recognise as Kunbis all blood relatives of the Maratha Community members whose Kunbi Caste records have been found.
Kunbi, an agrarian community, falls in the Other Backward Classes (O.B.C.) Category, and Maratha Quota activist Manoj Jarange, who spearheads the agitation over the reservation issue, has been demanding Kunbi certificates for all Marathas.
In the morning, Manoj said he was withdrawing his agitation as the government has accepted all his demands.
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