Manoj Jarange, a prominent activist advocating for Maratha quota rights, was admitted to a hospital in Maharashtra on Sunday following a 16-day hunger strike. While his health has been a cause for concern due to the extended fast, a doctor reported that Jarange’s overall health parameters are currently stable, although his blood pressure is slightly low.
The doctor attending to Jarange stated, “Jarange has lost 8-10 kgs of weight during the hunger strike. His blood pressure is a bit low. The Kidney Function test (KFT) was normal on Sunday. Jarange’s serum creatinine in KFT was on the higher side earlier when he was on fast.”
Although Jarange is not in the intensive care unit (ICU), further tests will be conducted to assess his condition fully. If these tests yield normal results, he is expected to be discharged from the hospital.
Manoj Jarange initiated his hunger strike on August 29 in Antarwali Sarati village, Jalna district, demanding Other Backward Class (OBC) quota status for the Maratha community. His protest concluded on September 14, the 17th day of his fast, after a meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. During the meeting, the Chief Minister assured Jarange of the government’s commitment to providing quota reservations for the Maratha community.
