Jalna
On the sixth day of his indefinite hunger strike, Manoj Jarange-Patil, President of Shivba Sanghatana, unexpectedly collapsed due to weakness on the stage. This incident occurred as thousands of alarmed villagers rushed to the scene in Jalna, Maharashtra on Monday afternoon. The dramatic development unfolded when Jarange-Patil attempted to respond to statements made by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Mumbai, as the Maratha community’s demands for reservations escalated in various parts of the state. As he tried to stand, Jarange-Patil appeared to feel dizzy and nearly collapsed, but he was supported by a couple of aides who prevented him from falling. Concerned onlookers implored him to drink water, but Jarange-Patil initially refused. If you force me to drink water, then how can we secure reservations? We must ensure the future of our children; what happens to me is not important, he asserted. However, after repeated pleas from the villagers, including a tearful teenage girl who implored Jarange Mama to drink water, the Maratha leader relented and promised to honor their request later. Lying on the stage with the support of two large pillows, Jarange-Patil criticized Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, asking why the issue had not been discussed with the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in Shirdi. He retorted that the agitation is peaceful and emphasized the need for restraint by the government. He also dismissed Shinde’s mention of exploring legal options in the Supreme Court, stating that the focus should be on obtaining automatic reservations. Jarange-Patil reiterated his demand for ‘Kunbi Caste’ certificates to be granted to all those eligible, including those whose entries have not yet been identified. He urged the government to accept the preliminary report of the retired Justice Sandeep Shinde Committee, suspend the panel’s work, issue ‘Kunbi Caste’ certificates, and provide reservations for the Maratha community.
