Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange announced Saturday that he will commence an indefinite hunger strike on May 30 to protest unfulfilled demands for his community, establishing a May 29 deadline for the Maharashtra government to issue Kunbi caste certificates in the Marathwada region.

Addressing journalists in this Jalna district village, Jarange called for the immediate dissolution of the state's Maratha quota sub-committee, asserting the panel has failed to yield results for the community. He also advocated for the creation of a dedicated ministry to oversee the affairs of the Maratha and Kunbi populations.

The activist accused the state administration of completely halting the issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas.

"Earlier, we used to get caste certificates, but now they have stopped disbursement. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has stopped the process. When we asked for certificates according to the Hyderabad gazette, we got a few, but now officials tell us they have been instructed by the government not to issue them," Jarange alleged.

Demands and Deadlines

Jarange urged the government to enforce the Satara, Aundh, and other regional gazettes, validate previously issued caste documents, and dismiss all police cases filed against Maratha demonstrators during prior protests.

"The government has not implemented the Satara gazette even eight months after its announcement. We cannot give them more time," he stated, warning of renewed agitations on May 30 if the May 29 deadline is ignored.

The activist's central campaign seeks to classify all Marathas as Kunbis—an agricultural community recognised under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category—which would grant them access to reserved positions in state education and government employment.

Objections to New Policy and Financial Delays

Jarange also requested community scholars and legal experts to convene in Antarwali Sarati on May 28 to review a newly approved state cabinet policy. The regulation dictates that reserved-category candidates who utilise concessions, such as relaxed age limits or lower educational criteria in competitive exams, cannot claim positions in the open merit category.

''The government came out with a GR two days back that OBCs cannot claim seats from the open category. Had this decision been taken earlier, the OBC category would not have eaten into our seats. The government has taken the decision now after they (OBCs) have taken our seats,'' Jarange said.

Additionally, he contended that financial aid programs targeted at Maratha youth are being purposefully delayed by authorities.

"The students of SARTHI are waiting for their scholarships. I have heard that around Rs 1,600 to Rs 1,800 crore is pending from the government's side to be given to SARTHI. We will not let these welfare schemes come to a halt," he said.

With inputs from PTI