Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange has refused to end his indefinite hunger strike in Maharashtra's Jalna district, giving the state government until September 11 to address the demands of the Maratha community.
Jarange is conducting the hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district. The agitation is focused on demands related to Maratha reservation and the issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to eligible members of the community. The latest development follows a meeting between Jarange and a delegation representing the Maharashtra government. However, the discussions did not result in an agreement that persuaded Jarange to withdraw his fast.
The government delegation included Maharashtra ministers Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Uday Samant, along with MLC Prasad Lad and MLA Makarand Patil. During the meeting, the government representatives appealed to Jarange to end or postpone his hunger strike, with Vikhe Patil expressing concern over his health. The minister also stated that the government remained committed to addressing the issues raised by the Maratha community.
Jarange, however, maintained that he would continue the hunger strike until the demands were accepted. He subsequently announced September 11 as the deadline for the government. According to his statement, if the demands are not implemented by that date, he plans to take the agitation to Mumbai on September 12.
One of the central issues in the ongoing agitation is the demand for Kunbi caste certificates for eligible Marathas. Kunbis are included in the Other Backward Classes category in Maharashtra, and members holding valid Kunbi certificates can access reservation benefits available under the applicable rules.
Jarange has urged eligible Maratha families to begin the process of applying for Kunbi certificates. He has referred to government records showing that nearly 58 lakh Kunbi related records have been traced across Maharashtra. The government has said that the process of issuing certificates to eligible applicants will be expedited and that nodal officers will be appointed to help address difficulties faced by applicants.
According to reports, Jarange has asked eligible families to use available documentary evidence and family, blood or clan links with individuals whose Kunbi records have been identified. He has also urged people facing difficulties in the application process to approach the concerned district collector.
The issue of Kunbi records has become a major part of the wider Maratha reservation movement. Jarange has argued that Marathas who can establish their eligibility through historical records should receive Kunbi certificates and consequently be able to access the reservation benefits available to the OBC category.
Government representatives have indicated that the existing certificate process will be accelerated for eligible applicants. However, Jarange has continued to demand wider action on the issues raised by the Maratha community. The disagreement over the scope and implementation of the certificate process remains one of the key reasons for the continuation of the agitation.
Jarange's latest ultimatum has increased attention on the possibility of the protest expanding from Jalna to Mumbai. He has said that September 12 will be the next stage of the agitation if the government does not meet the demands by the September 11 deadline.
The proposed Mumbai protest could become a significant development in the ongoing Maratha reservation movement. Jarange has previously led large-scale agitations over reservation and the recognition of eligible Marathas as Kunbis. His latest hunger strike is therefore being closely watched by political parties, government officials and community organisations in Maharashtra.
The state government is also facing pressure from groups representing the OBC community, who have raised concerns about the potential impact of expanding Kunbi certification to a larger section of Marathas. The reservation issue remains politically sensitive because any expansion of access to the OBC quota could have implications for existing beneficiaries.
The Maharashtra government's response is expected to be important in determining whether the current confrontation can be resolved through dialogue. Government representatives have maintained that steps are being taken to process eligible Kunbi certificate applications, while Jarange has insisted that broader demands of the Maratha community must also be addressed.
For now, Jarange has made it clear that he does not intend to withdraw his hunger strike. His September 11 deadline has given the Maharashtra government a limited period to respond to his demands. If no agreement is reached, the planned September 12 mobilisation in Mumbai could mark a new phase in the Maratha reservation agitation.
The coming days are therefore expected to be important for both the Maharashtra government and Maratha representatives. The focus will remain on the government's efforts to resolve the certificate related issues, Jarange's continued hunger strike and the possibility of further protests in Mumbai.