Maratha quota: Activist Manoj Jarange sitting on indefinite fast in Jalna refuses health check-up

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On Monday, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who has been sitting on an indefinite fast in Jalna district over the reservation demand to the community, refused to get a health check-up done.

Speaking to PTI, Jalna's acting civil surgeon, Dr Pratap Ghodke, stated that this may have an impact on his vital organs and parameters.

Members of the Maratha community have been staging protests seeking reservation in government jobs and education under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

The agitation intensified after quota activist Jarange Patil sat on an indefinite fast from October 25 at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna as part of the second phase of the protest.

Dr Ghodke told PTI, "District officials and doctors are approaching Jarange after every 2-3 hours. But, every time he has been refused a health check-up and treatment. This might lead to an impact on his vital organs like kidneys and brain. The sugar level may get low and can hamper his electrolytes level."

"We have approached his family doctor as well as other doctors in Antarwali Sarati. Today, the villagers are going to request Jarange to take medical treatment and continue his hunger strike," he added.

Meanwhile, the Maratha reservation Cabinet subcommittee meeting has started at Sahyadri State Guest House in Mumbai on Monday morning. In the meeting, CM Eknath Shinde, BJP ministers Chandrakant Dada Patil, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Minister Shambhuraj Desai, Dada Bhuse from Shiv Sena Eknath Shinde faction, Minister Dilip Walse Patil from Nationalist Congress (Ajit Pawar faction) are present.

At the meeting at Sahyadri, the Maharashtra government is likely to take a decision on Jarange-Patil's demand to issue the Kunbi certificates to all Marathas. This move will enable Marathas to get benefits under the OBC quota.

Jarange has announced that fast-unto-death protests will begin in villages across Maharashtra if the government fails to act on the pending demand.

(with inputs from the agencies)