Maratha quota stir: Manoj Jarange ends hunger strike, CM Eknath Shinde thanks activist

The ministerial delegation that met Manoj Jarange included ministers from all three ruling parties, Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP. It comprised Uday Samant, Sandipan Bhumre, Dhananjay Munde and Atul Save.

Jarange said he will not “touch the door of his residence” till all Marathas get reservation benefits. He also demanded that a date be fixed to revoke offences registered against Maratha quota agitators.

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde says, "...Manoj Jarange Patil ends his hunger strike. Our delegation met with Manoj Jarange Patil. I spoke to Manoj Jarange over a call & discussed the issues with him. I told him that the government is very positive in giving reservations to Marathas. We are providing Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas. We accepted Justice Shinde's committee report and I already assured Marathas that I'm with you and you will get the reservation, as a government we can't make decisions in a hurry we take time and make proper decisions. We are working on a war footing. Supreme court opens a window for us and for Maratha Reservation..."

Activist Manoj Jarange has halted his protest demanding Maratha reservation till January 2. The Maratha leader has agreed to halt the agitation and given January 2 deadline to the Maharashtra government to decide on the quota demand. 

Maratha quota debate to take place in Maharashtra Legislature on December 8, State minister informs activist Manoj Jarange.

Residents in many villages of Dharashiv district today launched a ‘jail bharo’ (court arrest) protest in support of the Maratha quota agitation, an official said. The jail bharo protest started in the district after local MLA Kailas Patil was detained by the Mumbai police for agitating here to demand reservation for Marathas in government jobs and education in the state.

Women protesters demanding reservation were detained while attempting a road blockade in Kaudgaon village of Maharashtra's Parbhani district. 

Several legislators cutting across party lines in Maharashtra staged an agitation outside the Mantralaya, the state secretariat in south Mumbai, in support of the demand for reservation to the Maratha community. The lawmakers, belonging to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) as well as the Shiv Sena, and the Congress, gathered at the gate of the secretariat in the morning and raised slogans demanding reservation to the Maratha community. 

Amid the ongoing protest in the state, a large number of police forces are deployed outside Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium in view of the World Cup match between India and Sri Lanka. Barricades have also been installed in front of the entrance gate as a precautionary measure.

Maratha reservation agitators blacken the posters of  Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Bhiwandi, Thane. The Maratha community has been protesting for their inclusion on the state's OBC list for over two months now. 

A Maratha protester is seen blackening the posters of CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has called a meeting on Friday (November 3) to discuss the issue of Maratha reservation in Maharashtra. The meeting is likely to take place at Varsha Bungalow at around 6 pm. According to the information, all MPs and MLAs of the 'Mahayuti' (grand alliance) have been asked to attend the meeting.  

(Inputs: Atul Singh) 

Activist Manoj Jarange has asked the Maharashtra government to make it clear whether it is ready to provide reservation to the entire Maratha community and why it needs more time in granting quota to it. He asked the state government how much time does it need to fulfil the demand. Jarange also asked the government to come to the protest site and hold talks with him. 

Maharashtra Police has so far registered 141 cases in connection with the violence during the Maratha quota agitations and arrested 168 persons, state Director General of Police Rajnish Seth said. Speaking about the violence in Beed district, he said 20 cases have been registered including seven offences under section 307 (Attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code between October 24 and 31.

A Maratha community body in Nashik has decided not to celebrate Diwali and other upcoming festivals till they get the reservation under the OBC category in Maharashtra. The Sakal Maratha Samaj's (SMS) Nashik district unit passed a resolution at a meeting held in Nashik city to observe the upcoming festival of lights as "black Diwali".

In view of the ongoing agitation, Internet services have been suspended in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district - both rural and urban areas - on Thursday (November 2). A Rapid Action Force (RAF) company has been deployed in the Beed district to avoid any untoward incident.

Amid the ongoing protest in the state, a delegation, representing Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, will visit Jalna to meet Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange today. Jarange has been on hunger strike since October 25. According to sources, the delegation will give the Chief Minister's message to Jarange and appeal to him to end the fast. Jarange has allegedly asked the government to send the delegation with a final solution on the matter. "I am giving you the last chance today," Jarange stated. 

(Inputs: Dinesh Mourya)