Maharashtra govt will be responsible if my health deteriorates during fast: Manoj Jarange ahead of indefinite hunger strike

Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange on Thursday warned that the Maharashtra government would be responsible if he suffers health complications during his planned indefinite hunger strike which he said would begin under the open sky amid extreme summer heat from May 30 reported PTIJarange who has been spearheading the Maratha reservation movement in Maharashtra said he had already given the state government enough time for discussions and implementation of the communityrsquos demandsThe activist has set a May 29 deadline for the government to distribute Kunbi caste certificates in the Marathwada regionJarange warns of indefinite fast without shelterAddressing reporters at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district the Maratha reservation activist said this phase of the agitation would be more intense than his previous protests reported PTIldquoI have already given enough time for discussions Now the time has come to take a tougher stand If I die due to heatstroke the chief minister and the government will be responsiblerdquo Jarange saidHe announced that he would sit on the indefinite fast directly under the scorching sun without any form of shelterldquoThis time I will not sit under a shelter There will be no tent and no shade I will give up water food and even footwear during the protest Either the government will act or I will perishrdquo he saidThe protest site at Antarwali Sarati is located around 400 kilometres from Mumbai and has emerged as a symbolic centre of the Maratha reservation movement over the past yearAppeal to supporters not to gather at protest siteJarange also appealed to members of the Maratha community not to travel to the protest venue during the hunger strike reported PTIldquoDo not come here I will sit alone in the blazing heat of Mayrdquo he saidDespite the appeal authorities are expected to closely monitor the situation given the possibility of large gatherings and heightened tensions in the regionThe activist alleged that despite several rounds of discussions peaceful rallies and demonstrations the government had failed to take concrete action on reservation demandsActivist questions delay in Kunbi certificates and jobsJarange also criticised the state government over what he described as delays in issuing Kunbi caste certificates and providing jobs to families affected during earlier phases of the agitation reported PTIHe accused the administration of filing false cases against Maratha youths who participated in protests demanding reservation benefitsA few days ago BJP Member of Legislative Council Prasad Lad had met Jarange for discussions regarding the ongoing agitation However Jarange claimed no meaningful progress was made after the meetingldquoMaratha votes are needed during elections but reservation is still deniedrdquo he saidThe activist also questioned the governmentrsquos claim that it had already issued around three lakh Kunbi certificatesldquoThe government claims to have issued three lakh Kunbi certificates Is that some favourrdquo Jarange askedReservation debate continues in MaharashtraJarange further criticised arguments being made against reservation for the Maratha community particularly claims regarding economic prosperity in parts of western MaharashtraldquoYou say western Maharashtra has prosperous orchards and wealthy farmers OBC communities also have orchards and prosperity Is wealth or horticulture a criterion for reservationrdquo he askedCalling the upcoming protest a ldquodecisive battlerdquo Jarange said the agitation was aimed at securing educational and employment opportunities for Maratha youth reported PTIldquoWe explained everything peacefully took out rallies and still reservation has not been granted The children of the Maratha community deserve to become officers and secure their futurerdquo he saidJarange has consistently demanded that all Marathas be recognised as Kunbis an agrarian caste classified under the Other Backward Classes OBC category which would make them eligible for reservation in education and government jobsWith inputs from PTI