Jalna Collector urges Jarange Patil to end fast as health dips
Jalna Collector Ashima Mittal appealed to Manoj Jarange Patil to withdraw his hunger strike on day five after his blood sugar dropped. He refused, while Maratha activists blocked roads in four districts.
Jalna District Collector Ashima Mittal on Wednesday appealed to Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil to end his hunger strike on its fifth day, citing a drop in his blood sugar level. She visited him at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district to convey the government's request.
"We are complying with all the government resolutions issued so far, and the government is positive about resolving the issue," Ms. Mittal said. "I request him on behalf of the government to withdraw the hunger strike as his health is deteriorating. We will continue to have dialogue. This is not the last fight; communication will continue."
Mr. Jarange Patil, however, declined to withdraw the fast, asserting that the protesters' demands require decisions at the State level. He questioned whether the Collector was there to defend the government and advised her not to get involved. "I respect you but won't accept your explanation. I request you not to come here for negotiating on any of the demands," he said.
Meanwhile, Maratha community activists staged a two-hour rasta roko at Chikhali Pati in Dharashiv district, blocking the Dharashiv-Latur road, and at several other locations in Dharashiv, Beed, Jalna, and Solapur districts. The protests disrupted traffic.
One protester asked why the government was sending bureaucrats instead of meeting Mr. Jarange Patil directly, and questioned the status of the government resolution and the State-appointed committee. "Manoj dada's health is not doing well. If something happens to him, the State will be on fire," the protester said.
Mr. Jarange Patil began his 11th protest on August 29 over reservation for Marathas under the Kunbi category. Citing the Shinde Committee report, he has claimed that the Satara District Gazetteer and the Hyderabad Gazette contain 58 lakh records linking Marathas with Kunbis genealogically. He alleged the government was reducing these figures, cancelling Maratha caste certificates, and preventing validation of issued certificates.