Manoj Jarange Patil, the Maratha reservation activist on an indefinite hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna, agreed on 3 September to drink water and accept an IV saline drip following an emotional appeal by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Prasad Lad. However, Jarange Patil made clear that the fast itself remains firmly in place until the government delivers on its promises. 'I am drinking water and accepting the IV saline, but I will not call off the hunger strike until our demands are fulfilled,' he said.

Jarange Patil's Conditions for Ending the Fast

Speaking before journalists and a large gathering at Antarwali Sarati, Jarange Patil laid down explicit conditions for withdrawing the protest. He demanded a formal Government Resolution (GR) and the restoration of Kunbi caste certificates that were reportedly cancelled by ministers Sanjay Shirsat and Chandrashekhar Bawankule. 'I will retrieve those certificates at any cost. I will not end the fast without them,' he asserted.

Jarange Patil also expressed severe physical exhaustion, noting, 'If I speak for too long, my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.' It was only at legislator Lad's personal insistence that he took a sip of water and consented to medical treatment.

Allegations of a Credit War Among Ruling Leaders

In a sharp critique of the ruling coalition, Jarange Patil alleged that the Maratha reservation issue has become mired in a political credit war between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He further levelled serious allegations against minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who has been serving as a mediator, claiming that Vikhe Patil was 'playing games' with the community and allegedly working to stoke tensions between the CM and the DCM rather than resolve the deadlock. Jarange Patil questioned why Vikhe Patil had stopped coming for discussions.

Notably, he was careful to exempt legislator Lad from his criticism: 'Our Lad Saheb has arrived. There is no point in blaming him; he genuinely cares from his heart for the children of our community.'

Government's Assurances Through Legislator Lad

Representing the Maharashtra State Government, legislator Lad delivered a series of assurances to the activist and the assembled Maratha community members. Key commitments included:

The official process of issuing Kunbi caste certificates based on the Hyderabad Gazette was to commence on 3 September at 12:00 PM. Lad pledged that all demands of the Maratha community will be fulfilled before Marathwada Liberation Day on 17 September, and that all Other Backward Classes (OBC) concessions will be extended to Marathas.

Immediate instructions have been issued to administrative officials to restore justice for the four students whose Kunbi certificates were revoked. Of the 1,376 legal cases filed during the Maratha reservation agitation, a majority have already been withdrawn, with legal and technical evaluations underway to drop the remaining charges.

A dedicated 1,250-square-foot office will be provided for the Maratha Reservation Committee. The Justice Shinde Committee, tasked with genealogical and caste verification, will receive a one-year extension and a 3,000-square-foot facility in Mumbai. The remaining ₹300 crore allocation for the Annasaheb Patil Economic Backward Development Corporation is being released immediately. No Maratha student's academic admission will be cancelled pending the final reservation decision, and the state government will cover full tuition fees in the interim.

What Happens Next

Legislator Lad offered to bring a cabinet delegation to Antarwali Sarati the following day and appealed to Jarange Patil to call off the protest. Going forward, the Maratha community will have direct coordination with the Mantralaya (State Secretariat) instead of relying solely on the Social Justice Department. With Marathwada Liberation Day on 17 September serving as the government's self-imposed deadline, the coming days will test whether these assurances translate into official action — or whether the standoff deepens.