After Eknath Shinde's warning, Manoj Jarange-Patil ends ‘hunger strike’

Hours after the, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde cautioned the Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil to not “cross his limits” , now Jarange-Patil withdrews his hunger strike on Monday.

 

 

He said he was taking the decision because of confusion prevailing in Maharashtra over his health as well as “curfew” imposed allegedly to stop his supporters from reaching Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna.

 

“I will undergo treatment for a few days, after which I will set out for a statewide tour,” Jarange told reporters in Antarwali Sarati. It was the 17the day of his hunger strike for Maratha reservation.

 

However, Patil said he would continue the protest in the form of a relay agitation.

 

“I am going to continue the agitation until the demands of the Maratha community are met by the government. The clause pertaining to inclusion of sage soyare (relatives) will have to be included,” he said.

 

 

 

The decision comes a day after he alleged that Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was “conspiring to eliminate him” and that accusations were being hurled at him by some of his estranged colleagues at the senior BJP leader’s behest.

 

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday evening warned the Maratha quota activist, asking him not to test the patience of the state government after Jarange levelled certain allegations against deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio. Jarange had also made some references to the caste of BJP leader Fadnavis, a Brahmin.

 

Last week, both houses of the state legislature unanimously passed a bill providing 10 per cent separate reservation for the Maratha community in education and government jobs. Jarange, sitting on an indefinite hunger strike since February 10 at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, however, insisted on quota for the Marathas under the OBC category and had continued his fast.

 

“Although I am suspending my agitation (hunger strike) today, there will be 3 to 4 youths who would sit here and fast every day for our demands. I will also visit some villages and explain my stand to them. They could not come to meet me here (at Antarwali Sarati village) because of restrictions imposed by the home department,” he said.

 

“If they want to prosecute me, I have no issues, but (by doing so) they will invite trouble. People would get angry, and the CM and the home minister would face consequences. It is their call now,” he said.