Maratha Quota Activist Manoj Jarange Patil to March to Mumbai for Hunger Strike

Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil announced on Saturday that he and his supporters will march to Mumbai to hold an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan starting September 19. The demonstration aims to press the government for job and education quotas, specifically the issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to eligible members of the Maratha community. Jarange Patil has been on an indefinite hunger strike in Jalna district since August 29.

The march is expected to begin around September 15 from Antarwali Sarati. The planned itinerary includes scheduled halts in Patoda, Srigonda, Hadapsar, and Khopoli, with the group intending to cover approximately 100 kilometers daily. Jarange Patil urged protesters to maintain peace and avoid stone pelting or arson, stating that the movement should remain democratic.

Legal and political context surrounds the march. A petitioner sought to block the protest due to its coincidence with the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, but the Bombay High Court refused to issue an order against it. The broader quota struggle involves a long standing demand for reservations under the Other Backward Classes category. While the Maharashtra legislature passed a bill for a separate 10 percent quota in February 2024, Jarange Patil argues that this separate quota may be struck down by the judiciary for exceeding the 50 percent constitutional ceiling.

Reporting on the event varied by political lean. Center and center left sources focused primarily on the logistics of the march and the specific demands for certificates. The left leaning source provided more extensive historical and legal context, detailing previous court rulings and the specific sub caste dynamics of the Kunbi community.