Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil threatens to stop drinking water

Jalna: Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil, now on hunger strike demanding reservation for the entire Maratha community in Maharashtra, threatened to stop drinking water from Wednesday night if the government did not clarify its position on vital issues connected to the agitation.

He demanded convening a special Assembly session to give Kunbi certificates to the general Maratha community in Maharashtra, and also a deadline on how many days would be needed to give such certificates.

He was interacting with newsmen on the eighth day of the second phase of his hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati village in Ambad taluka of Jalna district.

Jarange-Patil also threatened to stop drinking water from Wednesday night if the government did not clarify its position on these issues by the end of the day.

He further said that the peaceful chain hunger strike would continue in Beed, Kaij and other places in the region.

He said the agitation cannot be suppressed by shutting down internet services.

"We will not back down unless the entire Maratha community in Maharashtra gets reservation," said Jarange-Patil.

Thousands of youths kept vigil here throughout the night amidst a shutdown of internet services.

"The ongoing peaceful movement for Maratha reservation has now become bigger. and therefore, it may be a ploy of the government to suppress the movement. I won't get up from here and they can't get me up," he said.

An all-party meeting has been called in Mumbai on Wednesday on the issue of reservation for the Maratha community. (UNI)