Jarange-Patil Begins 11th Hunger Strike, Sets September 11 Deadline for GR

Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil has begun his 11th indefinite hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, escalating pressure on the Maharashtra government. The protest, which started on August 29, demands the issuance of a formal Government Resolution (GR) based on 5.8 million Kunbi records. Jarange-Patil has warned that if the GR is not issued by September 11, he will bring Mumbai to a standstill.

This latest agitation marks another chapter in a movement that has repeatedly reshaped state politics. Since September 2023, Jarange-Patil has undertaken 11 hunger strikes, with nine held at Antarwali Sarati and two major agitations in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The first major fast in 2023 followed a police lathicharge on supporters, which forced the government to form a committee to search for Kunbi records.

While the government has accepted some demands—including locating 5.8 million Kunbi records, allocating Rs 300 crore for the Annasaheb Patil Economic Development Corporation, and distributing Kunbi certificates to lakhs of Maratha youths—the core sticking point remains. Jarange-Patil insists that all Marathas be recognised as Kunbi and granted OBC certificates based on historical gazettes. The government has delayed converting the 'Sage-Soyre' (blood relatives) notification into a legally binding GR, citing opposition from the OBC community and legal complexities.

The movement's political weight is significant. The Maratha community constitutes over 30 per cent of Maharashtra's population, making it a formidable vote bank. In contrast, OBC movements often fragment due to the category comprising hundreds of distinct castes. This disparity was highlighted when police detained OBC leader Mangesh Sasane, who was also on hunger strike at the same location, while Jarange-Patil's protest continues without similar action.

Meanwhile, the Maratha Kranti Morcha has held meetings in Pune to strategise. Key coordinators, including Rajendra Kondhare, Rajendra Kunjir, Anil Tadge, and Dhananjay Jadhav, discussed the community's demands, legal aspects of reservation, and plans to exert all-round pressure on the government.