Manoj Jarange Patil, a prominent activist advocating for Maratha reservation, concluded his 20-day hunger strike on Thursday. He issued a stern warning to the Maharashtra government, stating that if his demands regarding Maratha reservation are not addressed within three months, he will escalate the protest to Mumbai. This development highlights ongoing tensions surrounding the Maratha quota issue in the state.
Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant, who was in Paris to attend an international space conference, facilitated communication between the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister, and Jarange Patil’s associates. The Maharashtra Minister spoke with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his Deputy Eknath Shinde on multiple occasions, with sources putting the number of interactions at seven. The Minister followed it up with a key conference call involving him, the Chief Minister, his Deputy, Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and BJP leader Prasad Lad.
The government also established direct contact with Jarange Patil’s close associates. The immediate challenge facing the government was averted, and a path was cleared to ease tensions surrounding the proposed Mumbai march. The challenge for the government was twofold: keeping the door open for dialogue regarding Jarange Patil’s agitation while ensuring the situation did not escalate further due to the proposed Mumbai march.
During these conversations, assurances were given that positive decisions would be taken regarding the pending demands, sources said. Emphasis was placed on finding a solution through dialogue, particularly given the large influx of people in Mumbai during the ongoing Ganeshotsav celebrations, sources said.
