Maratha Reservation Battle Rekindled as Jarange Embarks on Ninth Indefinite Fast

Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange on Saturday launched his ninth indefinite hunger strike , reigniting one of Maharashtra's most politically sensitive movements and intensifying pressure on the state government to address long-pending demands related to the Maratha reservation issue .

The protest began at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, the epicentre of the recent Maratha reservation movement. In a symbolic display of determination, Jarange chose to sit on an indefinite fast in the open under the blazing summer sun , without a canopy or any protective shelter, despite soaring temperatures in the region.

The renewed agitation prompted an immediate response from the state government. Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil , chairman of the Maratha Reservation Cabinet Sub Committee and a senior minister in the Maharashtra government, rushed to the protest site to hold discussions with Jarange and persuade him to withdraw the fast. The minister urged the activist to sit under a shed and assured him that the government was actively working towards resolving the issue.

However, Jarange remained firm on his stand, reiterating that the Maratha community should not be subjected to what he described as an "agni pariksha" (trial by fire) . He asserted that the agitation would continue until the government takes concrete steps to fulfil the demands raised by the community.

Among his key demands is the issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to eligible members of the Maratha community, which would enable them to access reservation benefits under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota . Jarange has also called for the implementation of provisions linked to the Hyderabad and Satara Gazette records , which supporters believe provide historical grounds for recognising many Marathas as Kunbis.

Additionally, he has sought the withdrawal of cases registered against protesters during previous phases of the reservation movement and demanded the establishment of a dedicated ministry for the Maratha community on the lines of the existing department for OBC welfare.

The latest fast marks another critical chapter in the prolonged struggle for Maratha reservation , an issue that continues to influence Maharashtra's social and political landscape. With Jarange once again taking the path of indefinite protest , the spotlight is firmly back on the government's next move and its ability to find a lasting solution to a demand that has dominated state politics for years.