Maratha Quota Activist Manoj Jarange Ends Hunger Strike After Maharashtra Govt Agrees to Key Demands
On August 29, Manoj Jarange, a Maratha quota activist, began an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan in Mumbai. This is in favor of a 10% quota for Maratha employees in government positions.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) September 3: On the fifth day of his fast, Maratha activist Manoj Jarange ends his indefinite hunger strike. This is after reaching an agreement with the Maharashtra government on two important requests.
Agreement Reached on Kunbi Status for Marathas
According to Jarange, the protesters who have been demonstrating at Azad Maidan in Mumbai for the last four days, have won their main demand. They demanded that the Maratha community from the Marathwada region be granted the OBC category of Kunbi status.
The Maratha community makes up more than 30% of Maharashtra's population. They have a major influence over the state.
Government Promises Jobs and Compensation to Victims’ Families
In front of the cabinet subcommittee members, he broke his fast. He sips juice from Vikhe-Patil. His fans applauded at Azad Maidan. He was taken quickly to a hospital for examination. It is also agreed that within a week, the relatives of those killed during the protests would receive government positions and compensation.
Jarange declares, "We have won". This is during a meeting with the Cabinet subcommittee led by Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil.
The committee informs Jarange that legal options for issuing a GR saying that Kunbis and Marathas belonged to the same community were being investigated. The procedure may take two months.
CM Fadnavis and Deputy CMs Welcome Resolution
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was pleased that the Maratha reservation hunger strike had ended. He praised the cabinet subcommittee and Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde for their contributions to the solution.
Fadnavis also says that the protestors' main demand had been agreed with in theory. The reservations will be given to individuals rather than organizations.
He says, “We have found a way out and accepted their most prominent demand to implement the Hyderabad gazetteer. We did not have any two thoughts about it. They were demanding that it should be implemented for all Marathas. But we tried to convince them that reservation is not for a group but for individuals, hence this kind of decision cannot be taken as proof is needed for that. The Hyderabad gazetteer will be of help as a proof”.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed gratitude to Manoj Jarange. He is a Maratha quota campaigner. He also thanks the community members who took part in the protest in Mumbai for putting an end to their agitation in a peaceful manner. According to Shinde, the state government addressed the demands in a "positive and practical manner.”
Protest at Azad Maidan
On August 29, Jarange and about 4,000 protestors began their demonstration at Azad Maidan. This resulted in severe traffic in south Mumbai. They called for the Maratha community to have a 10% share of OBC positions in government employment and education.
Bombay High Court Intervenes in Protest Disruption
The Bombay High Court heard the case on Monday. The court stated that the Maratha quota controversy has "literally paralyzed" Mumbai. The court directed that the protest location be cleared by Tuesday at 3 p.m.
The demonstrators and police engaged in a heated confrontation in the morning when attempts were made to leave Azad Maidan.
Later that day, though, the Bombay High Court gave Jarange permission to remain at Azad Maidan till the morning of September 3.
