OBC activists end 10-day fast after meeting Maharashtra govt delegation

While withdrawing the hunger strike, Prof Hake clarified that the protest is not put off but suspended as the government has partially accepted his demands that the OBC quota would not be touched.

Mumbai: The two OBC protestors Professor Laxman Hake and Navnath Waghmare on Saturday withdrew their 10-day-long hunger-strike after the Maharashtra government assured that the existing quota of other backward classes (OBCs) would not be diluted.

The government ministerial delegation visited the protest site near Datta Mandir at the Wadigodri in Ambad tehsil of Jalna district and held extensive deliberations.

The delegation was led by veteran OBC leader and state’s Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister Chhagan Bhujbal.

The development follows a day after Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and two Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar held extensive discussions on this issue.

After convincing Professors Hake and Waghmare to withdraw their hunger strike, Bhujbal announced that Fadnavis has backed a caste census - which has been a long-pending demand.

Besides, Bhujbal also favoured political reservations for OBCs in law-making bodies - Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.

While withdrawing the hunger strike, Prof Hake however, clarified that protest is not put off but suspended following the government’s move to partially accept his demands that the OBC quota would not be touched.

“The concept of reservation has a purpose…reservation is not a ‘garibi hatao’ programme but it is meant to gradually address the issues of social backwardness and,” he said.

During the ensuing monsoon session of Maharashtra Legislature, the issue would be discussed in an all-party meeting.