Activist Manoj Jarange, whose indefinite fast over the Maratha quota issue entered the third day on Friday, said the Maharashtra government can convene a special one-day session of the state legislature to grant reservation to the community. He also said that if extension has been given to the committee appointed to devise ways to provide reservation to Marathas, then the Maharashtra government is conspiring not to grant quota to the community.

Jarange was addressing a press conference at his native Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, where he is observing his hunger strike. “We had given the government 40 days and presented necessary evidence to prove our stand on the Maratha quota. If they have given an extension to the committee working on this issue, it is a conspiracy for not giving reservation to Marathas,” he said. The 40-year-old activist appealed to leaders of the ruling and opposition parties to stay in their homes and not to enter villages.