Manoj Jarange Patil begins indefinite hunger strike for Maratha reservation

Manoj Jarange Patil commenced an indefinite hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district on Saturday (August 29, 2026), reviving the Maratha reservation agitation with a set of demands directed at the State government.

Addressing media at the protest site, Jarange Patil said the government should not resort to delaying tactics. "The government should not delay action by saying 'we will do it later'. Caste certificates and validity documents must be issued immediately based on the 58 lakh Kunbi records," Patil stated. He added, "We will not give any additional time to the government. This is the final battle for reservation. Every person should step out of their homes and participate in this fight."

Jarange Patil demanded that the process of issuing Kunbi certificates to the Maratha community in Marathwada be expedited, citing the Hyderabad Gazetteer. He also called for the implementation of government resolutions related to the Aundh-Pune, Bombay Government, and Satara Gazetteers. "The government should not plot to reduce the 58 lakh records found by the Shinde committee or discard this record. Certificates must be issued urgently on the basis of all those records," he said.

Jarange Patil warned that if Antarwali Sarati did not accept the demands, the protest would move to Mumbai. "If the issues are not resolved here, we will go to Mumbai. We will go to Varsha Bungalow or Azad Maidan," he said. He appealed to Mumbai residents, stating, "Mumbai residents should tolerate us. We are also your people."

Jarange Patil raised a new demand to abolish caste scrutiny committees in Maharashtra. "Caste scrutiny committees do not exist in other states. Why has this mechanism been kept only in Maharashtra? This information was given to me by Revenue Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil himself," Patil claimed. He demanded that the process be simplified at the tehsildar level instead.

Patil reiterated demands for the withdrawal of all police cases filed against Maratha agitators, government jobs and financial assistance for families of those who died in the reservation movement, and the immediate release of pending interest refund amounts from the Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Economic Backwards Development Corporation. "Marathas should stop relying on the government. Our community itself is our real support. We are now at the doorstep of victory," he expressed.

Mr. Patil warned local elected representatives. "If any leader from your village does not come to the agitation, tell us his name. If all current and former leaders from local self-government institutions do not come, we will settle accounts with them in the next elections," he said. He added that senior leaders from BJP and Shiv Sena had called him, which would reveal who the opponents were.

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Mr. Patil made indirect remarks targeting Sanjay Shirsat and Chandrashekhar Bavanakule during his address. He also gave protesters guidelines on conduct and prohibited actions during the agitation. He said he had attempted to bring Marathas from all sections into the movement. Patil stated that he would personally examine cases where validity certificates had not been granted.