JALNA, SEP 25:Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who was on hunger strike since last nine days for the demands of induction of Marathas community under the Other Backward Castes (OBC) category, ended his hunger strike on Wednesday.

Manoj Jarange Patil had been on a hunger strike for the past nine days at Antarwali Sarati village of Jalna district in Maharashtra.

Speaking to his supporters, Jarange Patil said he had decided to call off his hunger strike, keeping in mind the sentiments of the Maratha community. “We will deal with those who have hurt the Maratha community,” he said.

Jarange Patil has been demanding the enforcement of the draft notification that identifies Kunbis as’sage soyire of the Maratha community and for granting reservations to them under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

In February this year, the Maharashtra legislature unanimously passed a bill providing 10 percent reservation for the Marathas in education and government jobs under a separate category. But Jarange Patil has demanded that his community be provided a reservation under the OBC category.

Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said in Thane that the state government was trying to bring the grant of the reservation to the Maratha community within the legal framework as he underlined its necessity.

“Significant opportunities are being created for the Maratha community in police recruitment. The Sarthi initiative has produced 12 IAS, 18 IPS, and 480 MPSC officers from the Maratha community. It is necessary to ensure that any reservation granted (by a government) is upheld in court,” Fadnavis said.

To support Maratha students, a subsistence allowance of ₹7,000 is provided by the government to those who do not secure hostel admissions, and girls are granted free education,” he added.

Fadnavis highlighted several key initiatives and commitments to support Mathadi workers and the Maratha community.