Manoj Jarange, a proponent of the Maratha quota, has requested a meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in order to end his hunger fast.
After speaking with CM Shinde on the phone late on Tuesday night, Jarange made the demand.
Uday Samant, the state’s minister of industries, met the activist late at night.
At a protest site in Antarwali Sarati village in the Jalna district earlier on Tuesday, Jarange declared he was prepared to end his ongoing, indefinite hunger strike, which he began on August 29. However, he insisted that he would not leave the location until the state government began issuing Kunbi caste certificates to the Maratha community from the Marathwada region.
The activist said that he was giving the Maharashtra government a month to draft a report on the Maratha reservation by a state-appointed commission.
Late on Tuesday night, Jarange stated in a statement to reporters, “I want Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to come here so that I may end my fast for the Maratha quota. At the same protest location, we will then carry on a chain fast with my supporters.
In response to the lathicharge on pro-Maratha quota protesters in Antarwali Sarati village earlier this month, the Maharashtra government on Tuesday issued orders suspending Jalna district Additional Superintendent of Police Rahul Khade and Ambad tehsil Sub Divisional Police Officer Mukund Aghav.
The state home department issued two different suspension orders.