Maratha Quota Hunger Strike: Jarange Defies Govt Eviction

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange, now on the fifth day of his hunger strike at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai, has declared his readiness to negotiate with the Maharashtra government but vowed not to leave the city until his demands for reservation benefits for the Maratha community are met. The 43-year-old leader’s defiant stance comes amid escalating tensions, with Mumbai Police issuing a notice to vacate the protest site and the Bombay High Court ordering demonstrators to clear city streets by noon on Tuesday.

Jarange, leading thousands of supporters, is demanding that the state government issue a Government Resolution (GR) recognizing Marathas as Kunbis, an agrarian caste under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, which would grant them access to reservations in government jobs and education. He also called for the immediate implementation of a notification extending OBC quota benefits to the “sage-soyare” (blood relatives) of eligible Marathas, referencing historical gazetteers from Hyderabad and Satara as legal precedent.

“I’m ready for talks with the government, but I’m not leaving Mumbai until our demands are fulfilled,” Jarange told a crowd of 4,000 to 5,000 protesters. “If you try to arrest or evict us, it will be dangerous for you,” he warned, addressing authorities directly. He accused Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of misleading the Bombay High Court with “false information” and claimed the government would “pay a price” for ignoring the Maratha community’s demands.

Also Read: Mumbai Police Direct Jarange to Quit Protest by Noon

Despite the police notice citing violations of protest conditions, Jarange insisted that his supporters have adhered to the law and maintained peace. “Nobody can stop Marathas from entering Mumbai,” he declared, urging his followers to remain calm while vowing to secure justice. He expressed confidence in the judiciary, stating, “The high court will give poor Marathas justice. We are following all its directives.”

The Bombay High Court’s Monday directive to clear streets and restore normalcy in Mumbai has added pressure on the protesters, who have disrupted traffic and public spaces. Jarange, however, remains undeterred, even sarcastically challenging the government to “provide homes” for the demonstrators if they object to the protest site. The ongoing agitation has reignited debates over caste-based reservations in Maharashtra, a politically sensitive issue with implications for the state’s upcoming elections.

As the standoff continues, Jarange’s hunger strike and the growing number of supporters at Azad Maidan signal a deepening resolve within the Maratha community. With both sides holding firm, the situation remains tense, raising questions about how the state government will balance legal compliance, public order, and the demands of one of Maharashtra’s largest communities.

Also Read: Maratha Protests Paralyze Mumbai, Cripple Cargo Movement