CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: Quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil on Wednesday turned down CM Eknath Shindes appeal for more time to meet the demand for Maratha reservation and refused to call off his indefinite hunger strike. He said he was quitting consumption of water till the state government agreed to recognize the entire Maratha community as Kunbi and accommodated them in the OBC category.The fight for Maratha reservation has reached a door-die situation. I cannot step back at any cost, he said.Jarange-Patils comment came after CM Shinde said the all-party meeting held earlier in the day decided that quota should be given to the Maratha community without affecting the existing quotas of other communities. Jaranga-Patil questioned the states decision to block internet services in the rural areas of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. Similar restrictions are in place in Beed and Nanded. The blocking of the internet smacks of a conspiracy by government. It should immediately resume services. It is the governments misconception that shutting down the internet, registration of FIRs and taking action against some of us will silence the people demanding reservation, he said. He added, People are dying here and the government is wasting time on meetings. The CM and his two deputy CMs should realise there will be serious consequences to this. If people in government are wise, they should stop registering FIRs against Marathas. He further said, We want to know why government wants more time now. It should make it clear if all Marathas will get the Kunbi certificates. We will discuss all these issues with our community members and take a call on whether to give the government more time or not. Jarange said the cabinets decision (to issue Kunbi certificates to people with previous records) was unacceptable as multiple glitches, including asking the applicants to prove they are backward, have been introduced as a prerequisite for getting Kunbi certificates.

Stay updated with all the Latest Aurangabad headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.