'We have won': Manoj Jarange ends fast after govt agrees to grant Kunbi certificates to eligible Marathas

Activist Manoj Jarange on Tuesday ended his five-day-old hunger strike after the Maharashtra government accepted most of his demands, including granting eligible Marathas Kunbi caste certificates which will make them eligible for reservation benefits available to OBCs.

Jarange accepted a glass of fruit juice offered by senior BJP minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who heads the cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation, and other members of the panel at south Mumbai's Azad Maidan, the site of his agitation since August 29, marking the end of his fast.

The 43-year-old activist was in tears after breaking the fast as his supporters cheered loudly at the protest site. He later left Azad Maidan in an ambulance for medical check-up.

Jarange had earlier demanded that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his two deputies -- Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar -- come to Azad Maidan for him to break his fast.

"This would ensure there was no bitterness among Marathas,' he said.

Vikhe Patil told the activist that all three are out of Mumbai and appealed to him to break his fast.

"We have got the implementation of Hyderabad gazetter (granting Kunbi status to Marathas)…what else do we want. If they (CM and his deputies) don't want to come (to Azad Maidan), do you want me to die," Jarange asked.

The activist warned against the BJP-led government reneging on its promises.

"I warn Vikhe Patil if there is any attempt to deceive us on implementation of the Government Resolution (GR) on implementation of the Hyderabad gazette, in which a three-member committee will be set up at village level, and promises like providing jobs to the kin of Maratha activists who lost their lives in protests, withdrawal of cases against protesters, we will not keep quiet. I will come to Vikhe's home and sit there till I die,' Jarange cautioned.