Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange stayed firm on going to Mumbai as his hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna entered its 13th day on Thursday
Once we all gather on Sept 12, we will announce the date,” Jarange said, while speaking briefly to reporters on Thursday, as his indefinite fast entered its 13th day. “I am not waiting for the govt delegation to come. I will go to Mumbai. His statement came even as state govt maintained that work on the Maratha community’s demands was being carried out on a war footing. The govt delegation has indicated it would visit Antarwali Sarati only when it was confident of offering a satisfactory response to Jarange’s demands.
Targeting govt’s handling of the agitation, Jarange said the delegation was functioning according to political directives and criticised both CM Fadnavis and deputy CM Eknath Shinde . The Maratha activist said he had maintained cordial relations with Shinde for the past three years but argued that the issue had now gone beyond party politics. One has to use words according to the person and their conduct,” Jarange said.
“For three years, I spoke well about Shinde. But this is no longer about a party. I am speaking for the community. Minister Sanjay Shirsat damaged the relationship between Shinde and me.
Because the agitation is on,” he said, we will also see whether these camps are being held.
Responding to an invitation from Amruta Fadnavis , wife of CM Devendra Fadnavis , to visit her home for a meal, Jarange said he would accept the invitation, but only after the agitation concluded. I will take a saree for her,” he said. Reiterating that his stand was guided by the Maratha community’s interests, Jarange said he would continue to criticise the state leadership for what he described as their mistakes in handling the quota agitation.
“She has invited me, so I will go for a meal. But when a brother is on the field and fighting, a sister should not call him home for food. One should not look elsewhere during a hunt. She should think about this carefully. I will come for Bhaubeej. She should invite us then. Jarange also expressed scepticism over govt’s decision to organise camps for issuing Kunbi certificates, saying the initiative would be judged by its implementation. “We will see how the camps for Kunbi certificates are conducted.