CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR/KOLHAPUR: Reservation activist Manoj Jarange ended his indefinite hunger strike - launched 17 days ago, in demand of quota for the Marathas in jobs and education - at Jalnas Antarwali Sarati village on Thursday in the presence of chief minister Eknath Shinde. At the same time, two Kolhapur-based Maratha activists, who claimed their demands were different from Jaranges, said they would start their hunger strike on October 2. In Jalna, CMs presence at Antarwali Sarati was one of Jaranges five key conditions to call off the strike. Other conditions included the suspension of the police officers who ordered the lathicharge on protesters at Antarwali Sarati on September 1, and the withdrawal of cases against the Maratha quota supporters. His main demand, however, was the issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to all Maratha community members. In Kolhapur, the activists said their fight is not about getting Kunbi recognition, and by extension, reservation benefits as part of OBC category for the Marathas. They said they want the decision to add more than 130 castes to the OBC category, without quantifiable data, rectified. They want the OBC list reviewed and those who belong to the forward castes should be excluded from the category to make space for the poor Marathas.

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