Manoj Jarange, leader of the Maratha reservation movement, warned he will stop drinking water if the Maharashtra government denies quotas to the community.
The threat escalates a long-standing struggle for social and educational benefits in Maharashtra. Jarange's actions place immediate pressure on state officials to resolve administrative delays regarding caste-validity certificates, a requirement for accessing reservation benefits.
Jarange said, "If the reservation is not given, I will stop drinking water from this evening." The activist is demanding that the state government approve reservation for the Maratha community and expedite the issuance of required documentation.
Beyond the immediate threat to stop drinking water, Jarange has set a secondary deadline for the government. He said that if caste certificates and caste-validity certificates are not received on time, the movement will start a fast on Aug. 29 [1].
The movement seeks to ensure that members of the Maratha community are granted protected status to improve access to government jobs and higher education. Jarange has previously used hunger strikes to draw national attention to these demands, a tactic he appears ready to employ again this month.
State officials have not yet issued a formal response to the latest ultimatum. The tension centers on the government's ability to implement a reservation system that satisfies the Maratha community without triggering legal challenges from other protected groups.
“"If the reservation is not given, I will stop drinking water from this evening."”
This escalation reflects the volatile nature of caste-based politics in Maharashtra. By utilizing high-stakes personal protests, Jarange aims to force the government's hand on a complex legal issue where granting new reservations often conflicts with existing constitutional caps and the rights of other marginalized communities.
