Talks between a Maharashtra government delegation and Maratha quota agitation leader Manoj Jarange ended inconclusively, even as the activist's hunger strike ended day two on Saturday.
Following the failure of talks, Jarange has decided to continue his hunger strike.
Jarange has demanded that Marathas in Marathwada be declared as belonging to the Kunbi caste and given reservation—a demand that the government rejected.
Jarange has been demanding a 10 per cent quota for Marathas under the OBC category. He wants Marathas to be recognised as Kunbi—an agrarian caste included in the OBC category—as this makes them eligible for reservation, though OBC leaders are opposed to it.
"Marathas in Marathwada must be declared as Kunbis and given reservation. The Hyderabad and Satara gazettes must be made into law for this," Jarange said.
He also hit out at Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for sending retired High Court judge Sandeep Shinde, who heads a committee set up to expedite the process of granting reservation to the Marathas, to hold talks with him.
"It is not Justice Shinde's job to issue a Government Resolution (GR) announcing grant of reservation to Marathas," Jarange said.
Caste certificate is given to individuals and not the entire community, Justice Shinde said, clarifying that he was authorised to give such a report.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has extended the tenure of the genealogy committees, constituted at the taluka level, till June 30, 2026, for the issuance of caste and caste validity certificates to eligible Maratha community members under the Kunbi caste of the OBC category. Social Justice and Special Assistance Minister Sanjay Shirsat said the decision was taken by his department through a government resolution (GR) on Friday.