Manoj Jarange Enters Day 2 of Hunger Strike in Jalna, Warns of March to Mumbai
Activist Manoj Jarange on Sunday stood firm on his demand for Kunbi caste certificates for all Marathas as his indefinite hunger strike entered its second day at his native Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district. He warned that he would lead a march to Mumbai if the Maharashtra government fails to act on the community's demands.
Jarange launched his 11th indefinite fast on Saturday at Antarwali Sarati, where thousands of community members have assembled in support of the agitation. He is demanding that eligible Marathas be recognized as Kunbis, an agrarian community entitled to reservation benefits in education and government jobs under the Other Backward Class category.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Jarange stated that the state government should declare all Marathas as Kunbi. He said that if the demands are not met, the agitation will be intensified with a march to the state capital.
A meeting of the Maratha community's core committee, led by Jarange, is scheduled to take place in Antarwali Sarati on September 12 to finalize plans for a hunger strike in Mumbai. Jarange noted that if the government accepts the community's demands before September 12, the proposed fast in Mumbai will not be necessary.
Jarange has called for the immediate issuance of Kunbi certificates based on 58 lakh historical records, asserting that no additional time will be granted to the administration. He also demanded that caste certificate verification be suspended for individuals covered by these historical records.
His list of demands submitted to the state government includes implementing reservations based on the Satara Gazette, withdrawing all police cases filed against quota protesters across Maharashtra, and offering government employment and financial compensation to the families of those who died during past agitations.
Additionally, Jarange called for the establishment of a dedicated state portfolio for the Maratha and Kunbi communities with immediate staff appointments, the disbursal of interest on loans provided through the Annasaheb Patil Arthik Vikas Mahamandal, the release of pending SARTHI student scholarships, and the immediate distribution of appointment letters to candidates selected under the SEBC and EBC quotas.
