Jalna, Sept. 2 -- Activist Manoj Jarange's hunger strike over the Maratha reservation issue entered its fifth day on Wednesday, even as doctors raised concerns over his deteriorating health and the Jalna district collector appealed to him to end his fast.
Jarange's blood sugar level had dropped, a medical officer who checked his health parameters said.
A team of doctors camping at the protest site urged Jarange to take intravenous (IV) fluids, but he refused, the doctor said.
Jarange began his latest indefinite hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district on August 29, demanding reservation for Marathas and immediate issuance of Kunbi certificates on the basis of gazette records, among other demands. He has also threatened to intensify the agitation and take it to Mumbai if the demands are not met.
Jalna Collector Ashima Mittal met Jarange at the protest site on Tuesday night as part of the state government's efforts to persuade him to end his fast. During the meeting, Mittal explained the steps taken by the government regarding Maratha reservation.
Jarange, however, questioned whether she had come to defend the government's position and urged her not to get involved in the matter, saying the demands concerned decisions at the state level.
Jarange told Mittal that he respected her, but would not accept her explanation on the issue.
He also asked her not to visit him again in connection with the agitation, alleging that the government was unnecessarily sending her to negotiate with him.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.