Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange intensified his indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan, Mumbai, on Monday, entering its fourth day with a dramatic vow to stop drinking water until the Maharashtra government grants a 10 per cent reservation for Marathas under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. Jarange, unmoved by the government's promise to seek legal opinion on the issue, declared he would not leave the protest site, even if faced with "bullets".

The activist, addressing supporters on Sunday, claimed the government holds records of 58 lakh Marathas linked to the Kunbi caste, an OBC sub-group. "The government must recognise Marathas as a sub-caste of Kunbis and issue a GR based on these records," Jarange demanded, adding, "No one can stop Marathas from getting OBC reservation."

The Maharashtra government, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, responded on Sunday by stating it would seek legal advice on implementing the Hyderabad gazetteer to recognise Marathas as Kunbis. State minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who heads the cabinet sub-committee on the Maratha quota, said the Advocate General and a retired judge need time to study the gazetteers’ applicability, given Supreme Court observations that Marathas and Kunbis are distinct.

Also Read: Maratha Quota Talks Fail, Jarange Vows to Continue Protest

As the protest swelled at Azad Maidan, south Mumbai faced significant disruptions. Mumbai Traffic Police warned of slow traffic and occasional roadblocks on Monday morning due to the agitation. Local traders, led by Viren Shah of the Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association, expressed alarm over plummeting weekend sales, describing the situation as "Mumbai hijacked".

The protest also sparked political tensions. Maratha activists briefly blocked NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule’s car after her meeting with Jarange, raising slogans against her party chief, Sharad Pawar. Sule urged the government to call a special legislative session to resolve the issue. Meanwhile, NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal, opposing any dilution of OBC quotas, planned a meeting of OBC leaders to counter the Maratha demands.

Adding to the controversy, the TV Journalists Association condemned alleged misbehaviour by some protesters toward women reporters at Azad Maidan, threatening a media boycott if such incidents persist. With civic elections looming, the Maratha quota issue continues to polarise Maharashtra’s political landscape, as the government navigates legal constraints and mounting public pressure.

Also Read: Maratha Quota Stir Reignites Political Tensions