Manoj Jarange Patil, the face of the Maratha reservation movement, suffered a sudden health setback in the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday in Maharashtra's Jalna district, forcing a team of doctors to rush to him at midnight and begin treatment. Tuesday marks the 11th day of his fast unto death, and days of going without food have visibly weakened his body.
Sugar levels found dangerously low during checkup
When doctors examined Manoj Jarange late at night, they found that his sugar levels had dropped sharply because of the prolonged fast, and he had also been complaining of repeated bouts of dizziness. Given the seriousness of his condition, the doctors moved quickly to put him on saline so that his body could get the fluids and nourishment it urgently needed.
Jarange agrees to treatment after calls from minister and MLA
As soon as news of his deteriorating health spread, Minister Uday Samant and MLA Prasad Lad called Manoj Jarange directly. Both leaders urged him to accept treatment and assured him that work on all pending demands of the Maratha community would begin from 8 September itself, that is, from today, and that the issues would be resolved. Following this assurance, Manoj Jarange agreed at around 2:30 am to be put on saline, after which the doctors' team administered it and started his treatment.
Government delegation expected in Antarwali Sarati today
A delegation from the state government is reportedly expected to reach Antarwali Sarati, where Manoj Jarange is sitting on his fast, on Tuesday. The government is continuing efforts to find a resolution to the Maratha reservation issue through dialogue. After 11 days without food or water, Jarange's health continues to decline, causing growing concern among his supporters, while the administration is closely monitoring the situation on the ground.
What the Maratha community is demanding
The central demand of Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil and those protesting alongside him is that the entire Maratha community across Maharashtra be treated as Kunbi and brought under the OBC quota. Kunbi is an agriculture linked community in Maharashtra that is already classified as socially and educationally backward and receives reservation benefits under the OBC category. Jarange and his supporters argue that a large section of the Maratha community shares a similar socio-economic reality to the Kunbi community, and should therefore be granted the same status.
Old formula for Kunbi certificates now under question
During an earlier round of protests over Maratha reservation, the government had worked out an arrangement based on the Hyderabad Gazetteer and documents from the Nizam era. Under that arrangement, only those Maratha families who could produce historical documents or old evidence linking them to Kunbi lineage would be issued Kunbi caste certificates. Manoj Jarange and his supporters are now pushing for all Marathas to be granted Kunbi status directly, without such conditions. Existing OBC and Kunbi organisations in Maharashtra argue that giving blanket, unverified Kunbi status to every Maratha, without proper proof, would directly cut into their existing quota share and reduce their rights.
