Maratha Quota Protest: Jarange-Patil Begins Hunger Strike

Government Tries to Convince Jarange-Patil  

Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil visited Antarwali Sarati to persuade Jarange-Patil to lift his agitation. Yet the initial stage of discussions produced no concrete action, since the government asked for more time to handle several significant requirements. The minister assured the citizens that the government will take steps to support claims raised by the Maratha community and submitted the draft paper which contained action items to be taken by the state administration.  

Why Is Jarange-Patil Protesting?  

Jarange-Patil complained about delays in the implementation of commitments made during his hunger strike in Mumbai's Azad Maidan last year. His major demands include:  

Implementation of Hyderabad Gazetteer (1909) and Satara Gazetteer.  
Issue of Kunbi certificates to eligible Marathas of the OBC category.  
Establishment of another ministry to address Maratha welfare.  
Granting caste validity certificates as Kunbi to eligible members of the Maratha community.  
Strict action for officials who refuse to issue certificates to eligible applicants.  

Government Seeks More Time  

Vikhe-Patil indicated at the gathering the government is committed to settling the Maratha issues. But he warned against a Government Resolution (GR) to implement the Satara Gazetteer at once because of the threat of lawsuits. The GR related to the Hyderabad Gazetteer has already been challenged in court, and there was advice from legal experts to "take caution," said the minister.  

Protest Continues Amid Ongoing Talks  

It was the second round of meetings between Jarange-Patil and the state since Friday. Despite officials asking to withdraw from the situation many times, the Maratha chief firmly insists on holding onto his hunger strike for an indefinite period of time before he will see any change in the community's demands. When Maratha protests spread across Maharashtra, all eyes were on the government's next move and whether a breakthrough might be achieved in the Maratha reservation dispute.