31 May,2026 10:45 PM IST | Ahilyanagar (Maharashtra) | mid-day online correspondent
The govt’s position on the Maratha reservation issue has remained unchanged. File Pic
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said the Mahayuti government has consistently worked to ensure justice for the Maratha community, following the withdrawal of activist Manoj Jarange's indefinite hunger strike, reported the PTI.
Manoj Jarange, who has been leading the demand for reservation for the Maratha community, ended his protest after discussions with government representatives and the submission of a 12-point proposal.
Jarange had begun his indefinite fast on Saturday at his native village, Antarwali Sarati, in Jalna district. The protest was his ninth hunger strike in the past three years.
He called off the agitation shortly after midnight following talks with a delegation from the Maharashtra government.
Speaking to reporters, CM Fadnavis said the assurances offered to Jarange were already known publicly and that no new promises had been made during the discussions.
"The assurances that were given are already before the public. No fresh commitments were made behind closed doors. Manoj Jarange himself read out the assurances publicly, and government representatives also explained them openly," the Chief Minister said, according to the PTI.
He added that the government's position on the Maratha reservation issue has remained unchanged.
"Our government has always maintained that the Maratha community deserves justice, and all our actions have been guided by that principle," Fadnavis said, the news agency reported.
Earlier in the day, Fadnavis attended a programme in Ahilyanagar to mark the birth anniversary of Lokmata Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar.
Addressing the gathering, he described Ahilyadevi Holkar as one of India's finest rulers and praised her legacy of good governance, public welfare and justice, as per the PTI.
He also paid tribute to those who helped preserve Hindu traditions and Sanatan Dharma through various historical challenges.
The Chief Minister said the Maharashtra government had approved a development plan for Chondi, the birthplace of Ahilyadevi Holkar.
He recalled that during the celebrations of her 300th birth anniversary last year, the state cabinet had met in Chondi and decided to restore and redevelop important sites associated with her life and legacy.
Fadnavis said all projects approved during that meeting had now commenced and the necessary administrative processes had been completed, reported the PTI.
The Chief Minister noted that a formal ground-breaking ceremony for the development works could not be held because the Model Code of Conduct is currently in force for the upcoming Legislative Council elections scheduled on 18 June.
He said the ceremony would take place once the election code restrictions are lifted.
Fadnavis also responded to demands made by NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar for an audit related to the Ahilyadevi Holkar celebrations.
He said such an important cultural occasion should not be turned into a political issue.
"People should first clarify what exactly they want audited. There is a time and place for politics, and this is not one of them," he remarked, the news agency reported.
(with PTI inputs)
