Daijiworld Media Network - Jalna
Jalna, Aug 30: Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil's indefinite hunger strike entered its second day on Sunday at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district, with a large number of supporters continuing to gather at the protest site.
Jarange began his 11th hunger strike on Saturday, August 29, after talks with a Maharashtra government delegation failed to resolve his demands. He has appealed to members of the Maratha community across the state to leave their homes and join the agitation.
The latest agitation is centred on pending demands related to Maratha reservation, including the issuance of Kunbi certificates based on the identified records and other demands raised by the community. Jarange has described the current agitation as a decisive phase of his long-running campaign.
Large crowds continued to arrive at Antarwali Sarati through the early hours of Sunday. According to local reports, people were still reaching the protest venue until around 4 am, while hundreds of protesters rested at the site and surrounding areas wherever space was available.
Many supporters have made arrangements to stay at Antarwali Sarati for the next few days, with people from different parts of Maharashtra continuing to travel to the village.
The growing turnout has also created difficulties in arranging food and parking facilities for the protesters. Local farmer Vijay Tarakh made space available by removing cotton crop from about half an acre of his farmland to facilitate parking and food arrangements. The space was prepared overnight after the crowd faced a shortage of facilities on the first day of the agitation.
As Sunday is a holiday, more people are expected to reach Antarwali Sarati from different parts of the state. Arrangements are being made for accommodation and food for those arriving at the protest venue.
Jarange has issued a strong warning to the Maharashtra government, maintaining that the community's demands must be addressed. He has also criticised state leaders, alleging that Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil was speaking the language of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The government had made efforts to persuade Jarange to withdraw or postpone the agitation. A delegation led by senior ministers had earlier held discussions with him, but the talks failed to produce a settlement acceptable to the activist.
Jarange has warned that if his demands are not fulfilled, the agitation could be escalated and taken to Mumbai. Reports have also said that he has given the government a deadline and indicated that the next phase could involve a march towards the state capital.
The agitation marks another major phase in the Maratha reservation movement, which has continued to exert political pressure on the Maharashtra government. Jarange has repeatedly demanded steps to provide reservation benefits to eligible members of the Maratha community through Kunbi certificates and implementation of related government decisions.
Police have also issued conditions governing the protest and arrangements at Antarwali Sarati as authorities prepare for the possibility of a further increase in the number of participants.
With the fast entering its second day and thousands of supporters expected to converge on Antarwali Sarati, the Maharashtra government faces renewed pressure to find a resolution to the demands raised by Jarange and the Maratha community.