Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil on Saturday ended his protest after the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government accepted all his demands.

Patil, who has been leading the struggle for the last few months, announced that the government has submitted a draft, and that all of their demands have been accepted.

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He has been demanding reservation in education and jobs for the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

Few of his key demands included Kunbi certificates for all Marathas, free education from nursery to postgraduate level, and reservation of seats for the community in government jobs.

He has asked the Maharashtra government to start issuing Kunbi certificates recognising the community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC).

Patil also threatened to return to Azad Maidan for protest if the government fails to fulfill their demands.

Meanwhile, CM Shinde congratulated Patil for holding the protest peacefully and promised to fullfill their demands

“The agitation held peacefully, for which I congratulate all of you. I am also a son of a farmer. I know their problems and sufferings, and thus took an oath of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.” said Shinde, adding “I do what I say.

He further said that his government takes decisions in the interest of people and not eying their votes.

“Our government is a government of common people. We take decisions in the interest of the people and not eyeing their votes. Maratha community made many big leaders, but they did not stand by the community when it was needed,” Shinde added.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra minister and leader of NCP (Ajit Pawar), Chhagan Bhujbal said that the decision of the Shinde government is illegal and unfair on OBCs.

“Bowing to pressure from the Maratha community, the government today announced some illegal and unfair decisions on OBCs. Even if the government succumbs to the pressure, we will not remain silent. We will raise our voice strongly against this injustice on OBC community. Soon the direction of the next struggle of OBCs will be decided!,” he said.