Manoj Jarange Patil threatens of another hunger strike from February 2024
Manoj Jarange Patil on Tuesday demanded a special assembly session to enact the law, threatening to go on another indefinite hunger strike starting on February 10, 2024, if the state government did not turn the draft notification into an act allowing the Maratha community to avail reservation benefits under the OBC quota.
Patil said that the state government was expressing divergent opinions regarding the Maratha reservation.
According to Patil, the inclusion of the “Sage Soyare” (kin) clause for Marathas to obtain the Kunbi certificate is mentioned in the draft notification shared by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. This would facilitate a large number of Marathas in obtaining reservations. However, a different minister stated that the reservation would be made by the state government in New Delhi. These claims have cast doubt on the government’s seriousness in carrying out the announcement and its ability to relocate the Maratha reservation center.
Jarange went on to say that the government had requested 15 days on January 25, the last day of the agitation. He is giving the government until February 10 to call a special session and enact the law.
He urged the people of the Maratha community to begin applying for the Kunbi certificates. Jarange continued, stating that they are receiving information indicating that numerous locations throughout the state have not yet begun to issue certificates. The government needs to start issuing Kunbi certificates right away if it is sincere about providing Marathas with reservation benefits.