Marathi quota activist questions who Jarange's hunger strike is really for

The political temperature over the Maratha reservation issue has risen again in Maharashtra. Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who has been on a hunger strike for the past 18 days, has now set out for Mumbai. He intends to begin a fast at Azad Maidan from September 19. However, Mumbai Police have refused permission for the agitation at Azad Maidan. Despite this, Jarange continued moving toward Mumbai.

Meanwhile, Maratha reservation analyst Ajay Barskar has raised a direct question over Jarange's agitation. He asked whom Manoj Jarange is actually fasting for. Barskar said Jarange himself should answer whether this fast is truly for the reservation of the Maratha community, or to get admissions for four people and to have certain investigations halted.

Barskar raised another important point. He said that if Jarange's fast is for the Maratha community, then where is the detailed memorandum of demands bearing his own signature. He also asked why the community is not being told exactly what demands are in that memorandum, when it was given to the government, and how many of those demands the government has accepted so far.

Barskar also claimed that some people around Jarange are facing notices and investigations from various agencies. He alleged that Jarange is being pressured to get these investigations halted. However, this allegation is Barskar's own claim and has not been confirmed.

Barskar also asked who would be responsible if any threat arose to Jarange's life. He said that if Jarange is being pressured into the fast merely to get certificates for four people or to have investigations stopped, then there should be an impartial inquiry into the people involved.

Police have not granted permission for Jarange's agitation in Mumbai, and all eyes are on what happens next. It will be important to see how Jarange Patil responds to Barskar's allegations.