Manoj Jarange Ends Five-Day Fast After Maharashtra Govt Accepts Maratha Quota Demands
Mumbai, — In a dramatic turn of events at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil ended his five-day hunger strike after the Maharashtra government formally accepted key demands related to OBC reservation for the Maratha community.
Jarange, who had vowed not to consume even water until his demands were met, broke his fast by sipping fruit juice offered by Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, head of the cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation. The gesture marked a symbolic victory for thousands of protesters who had gathered in support of the cause.
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What Was Achieved
The Maharashtra government issued a Government Resolution (GR) agreeing to:
- Implement the Hyderabad and Satara Gazetteers, recognizing Marathas as Kunbis, a peasant sub-caste listed under the OBC category
- Begin issuing Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Marathas based on historical land records and lineage verification
- Withdraw all cases filed against Maratha protesters by end of September
- Provide compensation and government jobs to families of those who lost their lives during the agitation, with ₹15 crore already disbursed
📍 Background
Jarange’s protest began on August 29, demanding a 10% OBC quota for Marathas in education and government jobs. The movement gained momentum as thousands joined him at Azad Maidan, leading to city-wide disruptions and a legal standoff with the Bombay High Court, which ordered the protest site to be vacated.
Despite mounting pressure, Jarange held firm until the government presented a signed resolution. “We have won,” he declared to cheering supporters, calling off the protest and urging them to return home.
🗣️ Political Reactions
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed the resolution, stating, “Our objective was to deliver justice to the Maratha community. The government acted lawfully and fairly in their interest”.
🔍 What’s Next
A village-level verification process will now be initiated, involving gram sevaks, talathis, and agriculture officers to authenticate Kunbi ancestry. Eligible individuals must present land records dated prior to November 21, 1961.
The implementation of the Satara Gazette is expected within a month, and scrutiny of objections to the “Sage Soyare” (blood relatives) notification is underway.
🧠 Analysis
Jarange’s protest marks a watershed moment in Maharashtra’s reservation politics. By securing recognition of Marathas as Kunbis, the movement has unlocked access to OBC benefits—a long-standing demand that had faced legal and political hurdles.
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