The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Maharashtra): Quota campaigner Manoj Jarange issued a stark warning on Thursday, declaring that the arrest of him would provoke millions of Marathas into a hunger strike. Speaking from a private medical facility in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, following the conclusion of his own hunger strike in Jalna’s Antarwali Sarati village, Jarange underscored the Maratha community’s ongoing struggle for their entitlements. He highlighted a fleeting opportunity for the government to enact the “sage soyre” draft, a gesture he believes would be well-received by the community.
Introduced in January, this draft aims to facilitate the issuance of certificates to qualifying Kunbi (OBC) Marathas, a move Jarange has vocally criticized, especially in light of the Maratha community’s recent 10% quota allocation by the Maharashtra legislature under a special category.
Jarange’s critique extended to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, whom he accused of endangering his life, leading to Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar’s directive for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine Jarange’s allegations.
Unwavering in his demands for quota rights for Maratha kin with Kunbi certification, Jarange remains undeterred by the threat of imprisonment. He maintains that his fight is not for personal gain but for the rights of his community, predicting a massive response of solidarity—millions of Marathas ready to protest his arrest through a hunger strike—underscoring the depth of the community’s resolve and unity.