Maratha Reservation Activist Manoj Jarange Calls Off 20-Day Hunger Strike, Sets Three-Month Deadline for State
BEED: Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil ended his 20-day hunger strike on Thursday, September 17, after talks with a Maharashtra government delegation in Patoda. The decision temporarily halted his planned march towards Mumbai, while Jarange gave the state government three months to act on his demands. The development puts Manoj Jarange fast ends and the new Maratha reservation deadline at the centre of Maharashtra’s quota debate.
Manoj Jarange Fast Ends After Government Talks
Jarange called off the fast after ministers and state representatives met him at Patoda in Beed district. The delegation included ministers Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Dada Bhuse, MLC Prasad Lad, MLA Suresh Dhas and senior officials reported by The Indian Express
The government representatives explained steps being taken on the reservation issue and sought time to advance the process. Vikhe Patil also proposed that Jarange nominate three representatives to monitor progress.
Jarange has been demanding recognition of historical records, including the Hyderabad, Satara and Aundh Gazettes, to help eligible Marathas establish Kunbi lineage and obtain benefits available under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.
His decision means the immediate Manoj Jarange fast ends without the planned Mumbai mobilisation proceeding as originally scheduled.
Maratha Reservation Deadline Set For Three Months
Jarange has now given the Maharashtra government a three-month period to address the demands. He warned that failure to act within that period could lead to the agitation being taken to Mumbai.
The Maratha reservation deadline therefore represents a temporary pause rather than a settlement of the underlying dispute. Jarange also appealed to supporters who had travelled towards Mumbai to return home for the time being.
The government’s position remains that some of the administrative and legal procedures concerning historical records require time. Vikhe Patil said the process relating to the Kolhapur and Satara Gazettes could take around three to four months after receiving written comments from the Advocate General.
What Jarange Is Demanding
At the centre of the dispute is the demand that eligible members of the Maratha community should be able to establish Kunbi lineage through historical records and obtain the corresponding OBC benefits.
Jarange has also sought a written assurance that eligible Kunbi records will not be excluded, with the document to carry the Maharashtra chief minister’s signature.
The issue has been part of a wider reservation debate in Maharashtra and nationally, including recent political disagreements over how reserved-category benefits should be distributed.
Mumbai Protest Temporarily Put On Hold
Jarange had been moving towards Mumbai after beginning his agitation at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district. His proposed mobilisation had raised concerns because it coincided with the Ganesh festival and was expected to involve a large number of supporters.
With the Manoj Jarange fast ends decision, the immediate Mumbai confrontation has been postponed. However, the activist’s three-month warning means the issue remains unresolved.
The next significant test will be whether the Maharashtra government can demonstrate measurable progress before the Maratha reservation deadline expires. If Jarange considers the assurances insufficient, he has indicated that the agitation could resume.
For now, the 20-day hunger strike has ended, but the broader Maratha reservation movement remains active.
