Granting a nearly two-month reprieve to the beleaguered Eknath Shinde-led government over the Maratha reservation issue, quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil on November 2 finally agreed to withdraw his indefinite strike nine days after a delegation from the state government persuaded him to call off his hunger fast.

While calling off his fast in Jalna’s Antarwali Sarati village, Jarange Patil kept the Shinde government on edge with a fresh ultimatum and warned of a greater agitation if their demand for blanket reservation for Marathas is not met by December 24.

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“This is the last chance for the government to give a quota for the Marathas. We told the delegation that we cannot accept reservations for Maratha only in Marathwada. We want it for the entire community of Maharashtra. I do not want reservation just for the benefit of the Maratha community in Marathwada but the whole of State,” Patil was quoted as saying by The Hindu.

He also said that the ban on politicians entering villages would be temporarily withdrawn.

Patil further warned the Shinde government Maratha quota agitators will reach Mumbai and “cut of the economic lifeline of these politicians” if the government deceived them.

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“I am not satisfied on any of the issues. However, my supporters urged me to call off my hunger fast. But there will be no more reprieve for the government… If they deceive us after that, we will reach Mumbai and cut-off the economic lifelines of these politicians. We will not let the politicians step out of homes,” the activist warned.

Meanwhile, thanking Jarange Patil and the entire ‘Sakal Maratha Samaj’, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, “This is a government that does justice. It is the common man’s government…This government wants to do positive work and takes decisions considering everyone…Manoj Jarange Patil has ended his hunger strike and I want to thank him and the entire ‘Sakal Maratha Samaj’.”

Earlier on Wednesday, the Maharashtra government had called an all-party meeting on the issue of Maratha quota where leaders agreed on Maratha reservation within legal framework.