Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil concluded his indefinite hunger strike on Sunday after holding discussions with representatives of the Maharashtra government.

The activist had begun his fast at 10 am on Saturday in Jalna district, and he called it off roughly 15 hours later following assurances from the state authorities on several long-standing demands of the Maratha community.The meeting included Maharashtra minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who heads the Maratha Reservation Cabinet Sub-Committee, and BJP MLC Prasad Lad.

Jarange-Patil informed his supporters that the government has agreed to accelerate the process of issuing Kunbi caste certificates based on 58 lakh identified records.These records will now be displayed at gram panchayat offices, and the divisional commissioner’s office will oversee the issuance of certificates.Additionally, he issued a one-month ultimatum to the government to withdraw police cases against Maratha protesters.

The Maratha community’s demand for reservations in education and government jobs resurfaced strongly in 2023 under Jarange-Patil’s leadership, resulting in protests, resignations, and sadly, even some suicides.The Maharashtra legislature had passed a bill in February 2024 to grant a 10% quota for Marathas in addition to the state’s existing 52% reservation.

Jarange-Patil insists that this quota should fall under the Other Backward Classes category, arguing that a separate quota would exceed the constitutional limit of 50%, risking judicial invalidation.After ending the hunger strike, he was taken to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar hospital for medical examination and care.