OBC activists suspend hunger strike as Maharashtra government gives written assurance that it will protect their quota

CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR/PUNE: OBC activists Laxman Hake and Navnath Waghmare on Saturday called off their indefinite hunger strike on the tenth day after the state government gave them a written assurance that reservation lands for the community would be protected.

On Saturday, a second delegation of the state government led by Chhagan Bhujbal, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, met the protesters in Wadigodri village. The government assured them in writing that none of the reservations of the underdeveloped communities would be diluted or affected. Hake suspended his strike, calling it a “30-40% victory”.

Bhujbal, however, warned his own government that the struggle to protect OBC rights was only temporarily halted and would continue until justice was done for the community.

CM Eknath Shinde, who was in Nashik, also thanked Hake for calling off his strike. He said the government was committed to resolving the OBC Maratha quota issue amicably. “We will soon convene an all-party meeting to discuss and resolve the issue in the interest of all the people of the state,” Shinde said.