Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, accompanied by some of his ministerial colleagues, visited Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, where the protest was on, and met Jarange in the morning.

Speaking on the occasion, chief minister Eknath Shinde announced that his government is committed to providing reservation to the Maratha community.

"Manoj Jarange`s fight is not for any personal demand and that is why it received so much support from the community. In the past, the government provided reservation, but it could not survive in the Supreme Court," Shinde said

Jarange had earlier said he is ready to withdraw his indefinite hunger strike, but will not leave the protest site until the state government starts issuing Kunbi caste certificates to the Maratha community from the Marathwada region.

The state government has set up a five-member panel headed by Judge Sandeep Shinde (retired) to determine the Standard Operating Procedures, including legal and administrative framework, for giving caste certificates to Maratha community members referred to as Kunbis (part of OBCs now) in Nizam-era documents. This will allow Marathas from the Marathwada region to avail quota benefits under the OBC category.