Maratha Reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil has called off the protest demanding reservation for Maratha communities in government jobs and education in Maharashtra.
The activist Patil said the government lead by Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde has accepted their request. He praised Shinde and said he will end his fast on Saturday by drinking juice itself from him.
"Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has done a good job. Our protest is now over. Our request has been accepted. We will accept the letter from him. I will drink juice by the hands of the Chief Minister tomorrow (Saturday)," Patil told media.
Patil’s announcement came as a protest march by the quota activists, which started from Jalna on January 20, was set to enter Mumbai city on Saturday.
Who is Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil?
Manoj Jarange Patil originally hails from Maharashtra’s Beed district. He has been advocating reservation for Marathas from the last 15 years. He first came into limelight after he sold off his land for meeting requirements of organizing protests and marches for demanding reservation to Marathas in government jobs and education.
He was initially associated with Congress. Later, he formed Shivba Sanghatana for organizing marches and protests for Maratha reservation.
Later, following Supreme Court’s annulment of the Maratha quota reservation quota in 2021, Patil organized Sasht-Pimpalgaon, three month long stir in Jalna district.
In September 2023, during a hunger strike, Patil had a clash with the police on the fourth day of the protest when they tried to forcibly admit him to hospital. The clashes with the police also brought limelight on Patil.
On December 26, Patil had issued a warning while announcing his march to Mumbai. He had announced that he will initiate a fast unto death at Azad Maidan upon the reaching the Mumbai.
