Mumbai, May 30 -- Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil on Saturday began an indefinite hunger strike in Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district under harsh weather conditions, despite ongoing talks with the Maharashtra government over his demands and a written assurance that they would consider his demands late on Friday night.

Water resources minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil reached Antarwali Sarati to persuade Jarange-Patil to call off the protest. However, the first round of talks failed to produce a breakthrough, with the government seeking more time for implementing key demands. Jarange-Patil chose to sit in an open field under the scorching sun with food and water despite insistence from the minister to continue his agitation a...