The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Jarange withdraws hunger strike, again targets Fadnavis
MARATHA QUOTA activist Manoj Jarange Patil Monday withdrew an “indefinite” hunger strike he had started 17 days ago.
The move came a day after Chief Minister Ekanth Shinde cautioned Jarange Patil to not “cross his limits” in response to the latter alleging that Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis was conspiring to “eliminate” him.
On Monday, Jarange targeted Fadnavis again, alleging that he was bent upon repeating the Antarwali-saraati episode where police had lathi-charged Maratha protestors.
“I am withdrawing my indefinite hunger strike after 17 days. This hunger strike is being converted into a relay hunger strike. Every day, four youths will sit on relay hunger strike. Similar, relay hunger strike should be organised by Maratha community all over the state,” Jarange Patil said.
“A crowd of over 25,000 people including 5,000 women had gathered at Antarwali-saraati last night... Anything could have happened. The crowd would have run helter-skelter. Fadnavis wanted to create second Antarwali-saraati. I saved the situation. If there was lathi-charge, the Marathas would have then
run riot. I saved Maharashtra... It was Fadnavis who was behind the first lathi-charge in Antarwali-saraati... Even now he is conspiring to repeat it. He is refusing to withdraw cases against Maratha protestors. I urge the chief minister and both the deputy chief ministers not to provoke the Maratha community,” he said.
After the September 1 lathicharge in Antarwali-saraati, Jarange Patil has been repeatedly targeting Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio.
Fadnavis has refused to meet the activist and has not visited Antarwali-saraati yet. Jarange Patil said police have imposed curfew at some places. “I have decided to visit several villages in Maharashtra and interact with the people there. I am not going to back down till the law relating to ‘sage-soyare'’ is implemented,” the quota activist said.
Later in the evening, Jarange Patil was admitted to a hospital after his health started deteriorating. The doctors advised him rest for 4-5 days.