Maratha activist Manoj Jarange ended his indefinite hunger strike on the fifth day after a breakthrough agreement with the Maharashtra government on two major demands.
Jarange, who led the protests at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan for four days, declared it a victory for the agitators. He said their primary demand of granting Kunbi status — an OBC caste — to the Maratha community had been accepted. Jarange announced that his supporters would vacate the protest site once the government issued a resolution.
The activist further stated that the government had assured the withdrawal of cases filed against protesters by the end of September.
Compensation, Jobs and Legal Resolution Promised
It was also decided that compensation and government jobs would be provided to the families of those who lost their lives during the protests within a week.
“We have won,” Jarange told his supporters after meeting with the Cabinet sub-committee headed by minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil.
The committee informed Jarange that legal options were being explored for issuing a government resolution (GR) declaring that Kunbis and Marathas were the same community. The process, however, may take up to two months, the committee said.
Earlier, when Jarange Patil had started the latest protest, he had said, “I will not go back until our demands are met. Even if I am shot dead, I will not retreat.”
He had also said, “Do not block the streets. Let Mumbaikars move freely. Those who want to leave the city today should be able to do so without trouble.”
Over 1,500 police personnel along with central forces were deployed at Azad Maidan to maintain order. The ground has capacity for only 5,000 people, leading authorities to deny permission to three other organisations seeking to hold protests on Friday.
