Jalna, Sep 8 (PTI) Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange’s health worsened on Tuesday, the 11th day of his indefinite hunger strike, as his blood sugar levels dropped significantly, and he agreed to take IV fluids, officials said.
Jarange, who is staging a protest at Antarwali Sarti village in Maharashtra’s Jalna district, agreed to the treatment around 2.30 am following phone calls from Maharashtra minister Uday Samant and MLA Prasad Lad, they said.
The leaders assured the activist that the state government would begin work on his demands from Tuesday, and take steps to resolve them, sources said.
Jarange, who began his latest hunger strike on August 29, has been demanding reservation for the Maratha community under the OBC category, including implementation of the Hyderabad and Satara Gazette records and issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to eligible members of the Maratha community.
Kunbi is a traditional agrarian (farming) community that officially falls under the OBC category, making them eligible for reservation benefits in education and government jobs.
According to Dr Shubham Rathod, medical officer at the primary health centre in Wadigodri, Jarange’s blood sugar level dropped to 66 mg/dL, and his weight has fallen from 52 kg to 45 kg. He received four bottles of IV fluids till 7 am.
The activist on Monday urged Marathas from across major districts, including Pune, Thane, Nashik, and Mumbai, to assemble in full strength at Antarwali Sarti on September 12. PTI COR ARU
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