Activist Manoj Jarange on Tuesday announced the launch of an indefinite fast from September 16 at midnight to press for the Maratha reservation demand.

In February, the Maharashtra legislature passed a bill providing 10 percent reservation to the Maratha community in education and government jobs. But Jarange was insisting on the inclusion of Marathas in the Other Backward Class (OBC) category.

The activist has been leading protests demanding OBC certificates for recognising all Kunbis (agriculturists) and their “sage soyre” (blood relatives) as Marathas.

Kunbi, an agrarian group, falls under the OBC category, and Jarange has been demanding that Kunbi certificates be issued to all Marathas, thus making them eligible for quota benefits.

Talking to reporters at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, Jarange said, "September 17 is Mukti Sangram Din (Marathwada Liberation Day). On the same day, (we) will start an indefinite fast with the same demands (for reservation)...will sit on the indefinite fast from September 16 midnight."

"September 17 is the liberation day (for Marathwada), when is the Maratha community going to be liberated?" he asked.

The Marathwada area of Maharashtra was under the rule of the Nizam of Hyderabad at the time of India’s Independence.

Farmers and other people rose in revolt and defeated the Razakar militia of the Nizam and succeeded in merging Marathwada with India on September 17, 1948.

Jarange on Monday spoke to state Minorities Development Minister Abdul Sattar over phone regarding the demand for Maratha quota and giving Kunbi certificates to all Marathas.

He said the minister told him that he had informed Chief Minister Eknath Shinde about the issue.

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