Maratha quota stir: Manoj Jarange ends fast, gives Maharashtra govt 3 months to act
Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil on Thursday called off his 20-day-old hunger strike and gave the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government three months to consider and act on his demands. He warned that he would take the agitation to Mumbai if the government failed to address the Maratha reservation issue within the deadline.
Jarange, 44, had been on a hunger strike since August 29, demanding reservation for the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota through the issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Marathas.
He made the announcement after talks with a government delegation comprising ministers Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Dada Bhuse, MLC Prasad Lad, MLA Suresh Dhas and senior officials at Patoda in Beed district.
Jarange had halted in Patoda on his way to Mumbai after his health deteriorated during the march from his village in Jalna district.
During the meeting, the government delegation apprised Jarange of the steps initiated by the state to address the Maratha quota issue. Vikhe Patil suggested that Jarange nominate three representatives to monitor the progress of the official process.
"It will take around three-four months to act on the Kolhapur and Satara gazette after a written comment is received from the advocate general," the minister said, urging Jarange to call off his hunger strike.
Jarange, however, remained firm on his demand for "official recognition" of historical administrative records, including the Hyderabad Gazette, Satara Gazette and Aundh Gazette, to enable Marathas to establish their Kunbi lineage and claim reservation benefits under the OBC quota.
"The government should give in writing that not a single 'Kunbi' record will be ignored. The chief minister should sign that paper," Jarange said.
He warned that he would resume the agitation and take it to Mumbai if the government failed to honour its assurances within three months.
"If we are betrayed in the next three months, then we all will directly go to Mumbai along with our kids and women," he said.
Jarange also appealed to the more than one lakh Marathas who had already reached Mumbai in support of his agitation to return to their homes.
Jarange has been demanding Kunbi caste certificates for eligible Marathas so they can avail themselves of reservation under the OBC quota. The agrarian Kunbi community is classified as an OBC.
He has also sought an amended Government Resolution recognising Kunbi Marathas through the Hyderabad Gazette and extending the quota benefits to Marathas in Marathwada and western Maharashtra.
In addition, Jarange has demanded implementation of the Satara and Aundh state gazettes to facilitate the issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Marathas.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said the state government had kept the doors of dialogue open and accepted 12 of Jarange's 13 demands. He said the government had also explained the legal difficulties involved in the 13th demand.
Jarange had set out from Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district and was scheduled to reach Mumbai on September 19 after passing through Ahilyanagar, Pune and Khopoli in Raigad district.
Fadnavis had appealed to Jarange not to proceed towards Pune and Mumbai during Ganeshotsav, pointing out that the festival attracts large crowds in both cities.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had also appealed to Jarange to cooperate, saying the government had taken a positive stand on the reservation issue.
Mumbai Police had denied Jarange permission to stage his protest at Azad Maidan, citing law-and-order concerns amid the Ganesh festival.
Last year, Jarange's hunger strike at Azad Maidan brought south Mumbai to a standstill as thousands of his supporters gathered in the city. The agitation was called off after the government accepted six of his eight demands and initiated steps for issuing Kunbi classification certificates.- EndsPublished By: Ajmal Published On: Sep 17, 2026 08:09 IST
