India, Sept. 9 -- Days after Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil ended his indefinite hunger strike in Mumbai, the Maharashtra government has decided to start issuing Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Marathas during its 15-day campaign to celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday later this month. The campaign, titled Seva Pandharwada (Service Fortnight), will run from September 17, which is Modi's birthday, to Gandhi Jayanti on October 2.

The Pune divisional commissioner, who governs five districts in western Maharashtra, has asked all district collectors to issue Kunbi certificates during the 15-day campaign. District collectors have since issued circulars directing the village and taluka-level machinery to do the sa...