Doctors observing Manoj Jarange’s health in Maharashtra’s Jalna district stated the activist has dehydration and is now receiving IV fluids. His hunger strike for a Maratha quota reached its ninth day on Wednesday. According to a health professional who spoke to PTI, his blood pressure was also on the lower side in the morning.
Around 40-year-old Jarange has been staging a hunger strike in the Antarwali Sarati hamlet in the Jalna district since August 29. On Tuesday, the activist threatened to quit consuming liquids and water for four days if a favorable quota decision is not made.
Jarange has already received two requests from the administration to end the fast, but he has refused. His health status is routinely being checked by a medical staff. Jarange’s creatinine level is a bit high, and he is dehydrated. He is now receiving intravenous fluids, according to Dr. Pratap Ghodke, the additional civil surgeon for Jalna. “Jarange’s vital signs are normal, although his blood pressure is a little low. This morning, his blood pressure readings were 110 systolic and 70 diastolic. His heart rate is OK, and the electrolytes are good, the doctor said.
On September 1, when demonstrators reportedly refused to allow officials to transfer Jarange to the hospital, police baton charged and fired tear gas shells into Antarwali Sarati hamlet to disperse a rowdy crowd. In the course of the violence, more than 15 state transportation buses were set on fire and 40 police officers suffered injuries.
Tuesday, Jarange was approached and persuaded to end the protest by the tourism minister of Maharashtra, Girish Mahajan, and his cabinet colleagues Sandipan Bhumre and Atul Save. Jarange was invited by Mahajan to go with them to Mumbai to discuss the matter with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, but he declined.
On Monday, CM Shinde said that a committee will provide its findings on how to award Marathas from the Marathwada area with Kunbi caste certificates within a month. In May 2021, the Supreme Court overturned the Maratha community’s right to employment and educational accommodations made by the Maharashtra government in 2018 when Devendra Fadnavis served as chief minister, citing among other reasons the 50 percent cap on overall reservations.