Maharashtra: OBC activists continue hunger strike to protect quota; govt appeals to end stir

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Amid demands for Maratha reservation under the OBC category, two activists from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) in Jalna district have been on a hunger strike and sought assurance that their quota will remain unaffected. On Monday, per a PTI report, a government delegation met with the activists--Laxman Hake and Navnath Waghmare--urging them to end their fast. However, the activists refused to do so.

Reportedly, the protestors said that they don't oppose the Maratha reservation, however, it should not affect the current OBC quota. They sought withdrawal of the draft notification recognising Kunbis as "sage soyare" (blood relatives) of Maratha community members.

An OBC community leader has warned of nationwide fasts if the government's measures have a negative impact on their quota.

Per the PTI report, Hake and Waghmare have been fasting for five days in Wadigodri hamlet, close to Antarwali Sarathi village, where activist Manoj Jarange recently went on a hunger strike to demand Maratha community reservation under the OBC category. According to the news agency report, Hake, a former member of the Maharashtra State Backward Classes Commission, and Waghmare, president of the Samta Parishad in Jalna, are steadfast in their demands.

On Monday, a government delegation, including Maharashtra minister Atul Save, Rajya Sabha member Dr Bhagwat Karad, and Shiv Sena MP Sandipan Bhumre, visited with the activists and asked them to break their fast or at least drink water. Despite concerns about their declining health, Hake and Waghmare refused, the report stated.

Karad expressed concern for their health and encouraged them to drink water to avoid irreversible kidney damage. "Being a doctor, I request you to take water," remarked the doctor, the report stated.

Hake told reporters, "We will not end the fast until the government gives a written assurance." He said that the government was ignoring the OBC quota issue and reiterated, "We are not against reservation for Marathas, but it should not disrupt the OBC quota."

Per the report, on June 13, Jarange called off his indefinite fast over the Maratha quota, giving the Maharashtra government one month to meet the community's demands. He has been requesting that the draft notification declaring Kunbis as "sage soyare" of Marathas be implemented, as well as the passage of legislation identifying Kunbis as Marathas.

Kunbi, an agrarian group classified as OBC, is fundamental to Jarange's demand that all Marathas be awarded Kunbi credentials, allowing them to receive quota benefits.

Hake and Waghmare stopped drinking water on Sunday owing to the government's "apathy". Prakash Shendge, a former BJP MLA and OBC leader, met with Hake on Sunday to express his support and seek the withdrawal of the "sage soyare" draft notification. "The government has given a 10 per cent quota to Marathas, and now Jarange is seeking Kunbi certificates under the 'sage soyare' notification, which is not acceptable to us," Shendge stated.