Jarange Unyielding on Maratha Quota Protest in Mumbai
Maratha Quota Standoff Intensifies
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil remained resolute on Tuesday, vowing to launch an indefinite hunger strike in Mumbai starting August 29, despite efforts by the Maharashtra government to dissuade him. The announcement, made on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi, follows a failed attempt by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s emissary to postpone the agitation, which demands reservation for the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.
Jarange, speaking from his village Antarwali Sarathi in Jalna district, rejected a plea from Rajendra Sable Patil, an Officer on Special Duty from the CM’s office, who cited the upcoming Ganesh festival as a reason to delay the protest. “We’ve waited two years. If the government grants OBC reservation by evening, we won’t march to Mumbai. Otherwise, we leave tomorrow,” Jarange declared, emphasizing the agitation would remain peaceful. He assured that the protesters would not disrupt the festival, requesting a designated route to Azad Maidan, a prominent protest site in south Mumbai.
The activist’s demands center on recognizing all Marathas as Kunbis, an agrarian caste within the OBC category, to secure reservations in education and government jobs. He referenced the Justice Shinde committee’s findings of 58 lakh historical records linking Marathas to Kunbis, accusing the government of stalling on implementation. Jarange also demanded the issuance of Kunbi caste certificates and the recognition of ‘sage soyare’ (blood relatives) under the OBC quota, criticizing the state’s 10% separate Maratha reservation as legally vulnerable.
Also Read: Fadnavis Aide Urges Jarange to Delay Protest
The Bombay High Court, responding to a public interest litigation by the Amy Foundation, ruled that Jarange cannot protest without prior permission, citing the strain on police during the festival season. The court, led by Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne, suggested an alternative site in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, to avoid disrupting Mumbai’s daily life. Jarange, undeterred, expressed confidence in securing court approval, stating, “We’ll follow all guidelines, but the court cannot deny our right to agitate.” His legal team plans to seek necessary permissions.
Jarange sharply criticized CM Fadnavis, alleging deliberate obstruction of the Maratha quota and comparing the government’s tactics to colonial-era suppression. “Such high-handedness wasn’t seen even under British rule,” he remarked, urging Marathas across professions—farmers, teachers, and business owners—to join the march on August 27, starting from Antarwali Sarathi via Shivneri Fort, Chakan, Lonavala, Panvel, Vashi, and Chembur to Azad Maidan. He also called for logistical support, including 5,000 water tankers and medical aid, to sustain the protest.
The government faces a delicate balancing act, as OBC groups, led by figures like Laxman Hake, oppose Maratha inclusion in their quota, warning of counter-protests. The issue, a longstanding point of contention, has seen multiple failed attempts at resolution, including a 2018 law granting 16% Maratha reservation, later struck down by the Supreme Court in 2021. With the court hearing set for September 9, the agitation could escalate tensions in Maharashtra’s politically charged landscape.
