Jarange Threatens Fast-Unto-Death If Maratha Quota Not Implemented Before May 30

Mumbai: Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil on Wednesday announced that he will begin an indefinite hunger strike from May 30 at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, pressing the Maharashtra government to implement pending quota-related demands.

Mr. Jarange-Patil said the protest would be held without shelter, food, or water, and warned that the State government would be responsible for any deterioration in his health. Questioning the delay in issuing a government resolution (GR) on the Satara Gazette, despite assurances given eight months ago, he said the agitation had entered a “decisive phase”.

On September 2, 2025, the State government had issued a GR implementing the Hyderabad Gazette, enabling members of the Maratha community to obtain Other Backward Classes (OBC) certificates despite strong opposition from OBC organisations.

At the time, the Cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation, headed by Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, had directed officials to expedite a report on the 1818 Satara Gazette, as demanded by Mr. Jarange-Patil. The committee had instructed the Pune Divisional Commissioner to submit the report within three days, following which the government was expected to issue another GR similar to the one based on the Hyderabad Gazette.

The committee was informed that the Satara Gazette contains detailed records of families listed under the Kunbi category. However, no GR has been issued so far, prompting Mr. Jarange-Patil to demand that it be released before his agitation begins on May 30.

Earlier, Mr. Jarange-Patil had said he would launch the hunger strike over the Maratha community’s “pending” demands and had set May 29 as the deadline for the government to distribute Kunbi caste certificates in the Marathwada region.

Speaking to reporters, the activist said the protest at Antarwali Sarati would be “different” from any agitation witnessed in the country so far. “I have already given enough time for discussions. Now it is time to take a firm stand. If I die due to heatstroke, then the Chief Minister and the government will be responsible,” he said.

Appealing to members of the Maratha community not to gather at the protest site, Mr. Jarange-Patil said, “This time, I will not sit under any shelter. There will be no tent and no shade. During the protest, I will give up water, food, and even footwear. Either the government will act, or I will die.”

Reacting to the announcement, Shiv Sena chief and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, speaking to reporters in New Delhi, said Mahayuti MLC Prasad Lad had recently met Mr. Jarange-Patil to understand his demands and that discussions would be held with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

“When I was Chief Minister, with the support of Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, we took several decisions for the Maratha community. Earlier, members of the community faced major difficulties in obtaining Kunbi certificates, but we facilitated the issuance of lakhs of certificates. We also provided 10 per cent reservation to the Maratha community,” Mr. Shinde said.

The BJP legislator added that the government had constituted a committee under retired Justice Sandeep Shinde and attempted to secure justice for the Maratha community through the Sarathi institution. “Even now, we will make efforts to ensure that Mr. Jarange-Patil does not have to resort to a hunger strike,” he said.

Mr. Lad said he would meet Mr. Jarange-Patil on Friday along with Mr. Vikhe-Patil, chairman of the Cabinet sub-committee. “We will inform the Maratha quota activist about the steps the government has taken so far regarding his demands,” he said.