Maratha Activist Manoj Jarange Suspends Fast Amid Community Pressure

Maratha activist Manoj Jarange has suspended his indefinite fast, following community pressure to stay alive and fight for the cause. Jarange had initiated his fast to demand the implementation of a draft notification recognizing Kunbis as Maratha blood relatives and granting them OBC reservation. He criticized local BJP leaders and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for their opposition.

Maratha activist Manoj Jarange on Wednesday suspended his indefinite fast, which commenced five days ago over the quota issue, stating that his community members want him alive to continue the fight. He made the announcement while addressing media persons at his native Antarwali Sarati village in Maharashtra's Jalna district. Jarange initiated his latest fast on July 20, seeking the implementation of a draft notification that identifies Kunbis as blood relatives of Maratha community members and provides them with reservation under the OBC category. Despite initially refusing intravenous fluids, he agreed to receive them from Tuesday night.

Speaking to reporters this morning, Jarange said, ''My community says they want me alive. There is tremendous pressure from the community. If I die, it would cause a division within the community. Therefore, I have decided to suspend my fast.'' He criticized BJP MLC Pravin Darekar and Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal for opposing reservation for the Maratha community, suggesting this stance might alienate Maratha voters from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming assembly elections. He urged Maratha community members to defeat the BJP.

In a related development, Jarange accused Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis of attempting to implicate him in a false case. This accusation follows a Pune court issuing a new non-bailable warrant in a 2013 cheating case, where producer-director Dhananjay Ghorpade of Marathi play 'Shambhuraje' alleged Jarange failed to pay Rs 13.21 lakh after organizing six shows of the play in Jalna. Jarange declared his readiness to go to jail to highlight the life of Sambhaji Maharaj. He also criticized the state government, accusing Fadnavis of engaging in low-level politics and discriminatory funding practices, favoring social worker Appasaheb Dharamadhikari while denying financial support to Maratha youth. Jarange announced that Maratha community meetings will be held across various districts from August 7 to 13, with a significant meeting scheduled on August 29 to determine the future course of action.