Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange announced plans for a fresh hunger strike in Mumbai on August 29, accusing the Maharashtra government of betraying the Maratha community by failing to implement promised quotas in jobs and education. Speaking in Antarwali Sarathi village, Jalna, Jarange claimed the state has not honored commitments to recognize Marathas as Kunbis, an agrarian caste under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, and warned of a mass march to the capital.

“The government has deceived us again. Four major demands, including issuing Kunbi certificates based on historical records, remain unfulfilled,” Jarange said, citing gazettes from Bombay, Satara, and Hyderabad that he claims classify Marathas as Kunbis. He highlighted 58 lakh documents collected to prove this linkage, criticizing officials for stalling certificate issuance despite the Shinde Committee’s efforts to unearth evidence. “We’ve been patient for two years. Now, Marathas must rise and fight,” he urged, calling for community members to complete farming tasks and join the Mumbai protest.

Jarange also slammed the government for not withdrawing cases against Maratha protesters and failing to issue the Sage Soyare notification, which would extend reservation benefits to blood relatives of Kunbis. His demands stem from a decade-long agitation, intensified since 2016, seeking a 16% quota for the politically influential Maratha community, which constitutes 32% of Maharashtra’s population. A January 2024 draft notification granted Marathas a 10% quota, but legal challenges and OBC opposition have stalled progress. The Bombay High Court upheld the quota in June 2024, yet implementation lags, with only 7,000 Kunbi certificates issued by July 2025 against 1.72 crore applications.

Also Read: Fadnavis Slams Opposition’s Pre-Poll Misinformation Tactics

The activist’s threat follows violent 2023 protests, where his hunger strikes in Jalna sparked statewide unrest, leading to police cases against thousands. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis have promised action, but OBC leaders like Chhagan Bhujbal argue Maratha inclusion dilutes their benefits. Political analysts see Jarange’s move as pressure on the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance ahead of October 2025 assembly elections, with the opposition MVA accusing the government of “vote-bank politics.” Jarange’s resolve—“I won’t back down this time”—signals escalating tensions as Maharashtra braces for another showdown.

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi’s Birthday Cheer for Uddhav Thackeray Sparks Maharashtra Unity Call