Jarange Patil ends 17-day fast after CM Eknath Shinde's visit

A 17-day long indefinite fast by Maratha leader Manoj Jarange Patil finally ended on Thursday after CM Eknath Shinde personally met the Maratha leader and gave him an assurance that the Maratha community in the state would soon get reservation benefits.

"We want the Maratha community to get reservations; we are committed to giving it to the community, without it impacting any other community's reservation benefits."said Shinde at Antarwali village in Jalna where he had gone to meet Jarange Patil.

The Maratha leader had wanted a personal assurance from the Shinde and the two Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar as a pre condition for ending his indefinite fast. Shinde claimed that he was advised by many not to come personally to meet Jarange Patil to end his fast but said that he had 'set aside protocol' to meet the Maratha leader.


"A lot of people told me not to come but I came because you being the CM does not mean that you don't have humanity... the Maratha community should have faith.. it is our responsibility to give them reservations."