Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil has intensified his agitation as his indefinite hunger strike continues into its 13th day and said his march to Mumbai is “certain”. He said the date of the mobilisation would be announced after supporters gather at Antarwali Sarati in Maharashtra’s Jalna district on September 12.
The announcement is a fresh escalation in the long-running Maratha reservation movement, and Jarange is still pressing the state government to act on the reservations and caste certificates. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, he said he was not waiting for a delegation of government to visit the protest site before deciding his next step.
"I am definitely going to Mumbai. We will announce the date once we assemble on September 12,” Jarange said of the campaign that will take the agitation to the state capital.
What is Manoj Jarange Demanding?
Jarange’s agitation centers around reservation for the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. He has also been seeking the implementation of the Hyderabad and Satara Gazette records, and the issuance of Kunbi caste certificates for eligible Maratha community members.
The Kunbi classification is especially important to the ongoing debate because members identified as Kunbis can apply for reservation benefits under the OBC category. Jarange has always argued that eligible Marathas should be able to obtain such certificates based on historical records and applicable government procedures.
The activist has pushed the Maharashtra government to do so and is still on hunger strike despite health problems.
September 12 Meeting Will Decide Next Move
Jarange said supporters will gather at Antarwali Sarati on September 12, after which the date for the Mumbai march will be announced. The gathering will be closely watched because it could determine the scale and timing of the next phase of the agitation.
He also said he would look at how camps for issuing Kunbi certificates are actually functioning before deciding how to respond. The administration's implementation on the ground will be an important gauge of whether the government is truly addressing the concerns raised by the Maratha community, Jarange said.
“We have to respond according to the situation. Let us see how the camps for Kunbi certificates are conducted,” he said.
His words suggest that the protest leadership is monitoring government action while keeping the proposed Mumbai mobilisation as a major pressure tactic.
Jarange Criticises Maharashtra Government
The Maratha activist has also intensified his criticism of members of the Maharashtra government. On Wednesday he accused state minister and Maratha quota sub-committee chairman Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil of not addressing the community’s concerns and alleged that assurances alone would not resolve the issue.
Jarange had warned that the protest would move towards Mumbai after September 12 if his demands were not met. His latest statement indicates that he remains firmly committed to that plan.
The possible Mumbai march could put more pressure on the Maharashtra government, especially given the Maratha reservation issue’s importance in the state’s political landscape.
Attack On Eknath Shinde, Sanjay Shirsat
Jarange also talked about his relationship with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and said it had deteriorated. The deterioration he said was partly due to the statements and actions of Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat.
Jarange claims he had spoken to Shinde politely for years but now he believed the deputy chief minister was prioritising his party’s position over the interests of the Maratha community.
His remarks illustrate that the agitation is increasingly political in nature even as Jarange asserts that his campaign is about the community and not just a political party.
“I will speak for the community, not for any political party,” Jarange said.
Health Concerns Amid 13-Day Hunger Strike
Jarange’s indefinite fast has also raised concerns over his health. Hunger strikes of such duration can put immense physical stress on the body; medical monitoring is therefore a very important part of the situation.
Jarange has continued in his protest and has already indicated that he will carry out the planned mobilisation. His decision to wait until September 12 before announcing the Mumbai march date also indicates he wants to gauge the response from supporters and developments in the government’s Kunbi certificate efforts.
The Maratha quota movement will thus be important in the coming days. A large gathering at Antarwali Sarati and the announcement of the Mumbai march date could mark a new and potentially more intense phase of the agitation.
The challenge for the Maharashtra government is to address the reservation demand and deal with the wider political and administrative implications of any decision on OBC classification and Kunbi certificates. Jarange and his followers are also looking for concrete action not just verbal assurances.
As the hunger strike enters its second week and the September 12 gathering approaches, attention will continue to be on whether the government steps in to address the demands or whether the agitation moves towards Mumbai as Jarange has now firmly indicated.
