Mumbai: Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil on Tuesday ended his hunger strike at Azad Maidan in Mumbai after a meeting with a Maharashtra government delegation that agreed to most of his key demands. The delegation, led by Cabinet sub-committee head Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, personally offered fruit juice to Jarange, marking the conclusion of his fast and urging the crowd to return to their villages peacefully.

Overcome with emotion, Jarange was seen in tears as he accepted the gesture. Vikhe Patil described the day as a “historic” moment for Maharashtra.

The announcement triggered jubilant celebrations among the thousands of protesters gathered at the venue. Videos from the protest site show demonstrators dancing, cheering, and expressing their joy as the news spread. The meeting reinvigorated the protestors, and the positive development was met with visible excitement and relief at Azad Maidan.

Earlier, Jarange declared victory after the Maharashtra government’s cabinet sub-committee accepted most of his major demands, including the issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Marathas.

The announcement came on the fifth day of his indefinite hunger strike and was followed by discussions between Jarange and the delegation, which included ministers Shivendrasinh Bhosale, Uday Samant, and Manikrao Kokate. Following the talks, Jarange shared the draft proposal with the crowd, further fueling celebrations.