Maratha quota: Manoj Jarange's fast continues for fifth day; health deteriorates

Mumbai: The health condition of Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil worsened on the fifth day of his fourth hunger strike, sparking concerns and protests in various parts of Maharashtra. 

Jarange-Patil is undertaking the indefinite fast at the Antarwali Sarathi village in the Jalna district of Maharashtra, where people were seen sobbing, crying and praying for the good health of the face of the Maratha reservation campaign. 

The supporters of Jarange-Patil said that blood oozed out of his nostrils, as he was dehydrated and feeling extremely weak and could barely sit upright. 

A weak and frail Jarange-Patil could hardly speak -- and over the last two days had completely stopped water.  Later after great persuasion, he was administered saline. 

In an X post, Jarange-Patil posted that the government is playing with the sentiments of people and they would have to face the consequences.

Warning the government, Jarange-Patil’s wife Soumitra Jarange-Patil said that the government is "insensitive". “If anything happens to my husband, the government would be responsible,” she added, pointing fingers at Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar.

Jarange-Patil’s threat to stop Prime Minister Narendra Modi, however, has angered leaders of the ruling Maha Yuti. 

In a post on X, union MSME minister Narayan Rane said, “….I do not consider him a Maratha leader. He has crossed his limits by announcing not to allow Modi to tour Maharashtra. He will be shown the real strength of Maratha even if he moves from his place during Modi’s tour. Do not cross your limit...”

Meanwhile, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi has urged the government to address the issue.

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar urged Jarange-Patil to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Jalna and assured to support him.

Earlier, Jalna Collector Dr Shrikrishnanath Panchal and Superintendent of Police A K Bansal had requested Jarange-Patil to drink water on Monday night, but he steadfastly refused, and the medical team remained on standby.

On 26 January, the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP government widened the scope of Maratha reservation by way of issuance of Kunbi certificates and secure benefits under OBC quota by defining "sage-soyare", a Marathi term for relatives from the family tree. 

“The draft is not enough. It must be enacted into a law. What is the government waiting for? They should immediately take steps to convert the notification into a law. If the government fails to take appropriate steps by 15 February, I don't know what the Marathas will do. You have already witnessed what happened when they marched towards Mumbai last month,” Jarange-Patil had said after launching the fast-unto-death agitation from 10 February.