17 August,2026 07:45 PM IST | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | mid-day online correspondent
Manoj Jarange has announced an indefinite fast from August 29, seeking OBC quota benefits for eligible members of the Maratha community. FILE PIC
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Monday alleged that the Maharashtra government was trying to reduce the number of Kunbi caste certificates issued to eligible members of the Maratha community and demanded that certificates be issued based on the 58 lakh records identified earlier, news agency PTI reported.
Jarange urged members of the Maratha community to intensify their efforts for their demands and raise their voice against what he described as injustice. He also appealed to them not to come under pressure from any political party or individual.
Reiterating his call for an agitation, Jarange said he would visit Marathwada and parts of Vidarbha from August 20 to 25.
He has also announced an indefinite fast from August 29, seeking OBC quota benefits for eligible members of the Maratha community.
"The agitation will take place for pending demands of the Maratha community. The government should issue all the certificates based on the 58 lakh records found earlier. The government wants to curtail this figure of 58 lakh, but I will not let it happen," he told reporters in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Jarange also demanded validation of the Kunbi caste certificates issued so far.
Jarange demanded government resolutions related to the Satara, Kolhapur, Aundh, and Bombay gazettes, withdrawal of cases registered against Maratha protesters, and completion of government appointments for candidates selected under SEBC and EWS quotas before August 29.
He also sought the release of pending dues and completion of the process to provide government jobs to the kin of those who died during the Maratha quota agitation.
"Reimbursements through Annasaheb Patil Mahamandal and student scholarships should be settled by August 29," said Jarange.
He further demanded that schemes halted through the Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research, Training and Human Development Institute (SARTHI) be restarted and adequate funds be allocated for them.
"We have presented all these demands to the government in writing. No demand should remain pending by August 29," he said.
Jarange also alleged that caste-validity certificates that had already been issued were being subjected to fresh scrutiny.
He questioned whether the scrutiny was limited to Maratha caste certificates or whether certificates belonging to other communities were also being examined.
The Maratha quota activist alleged that Maharashtra minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who heads the Maratha reservation sub-committee, had initiated a fresh process to recheck the validity of certificates.
He accused ministers Sanjay Shirsat and Chandrashekhar Bawankule, along with MP Sandipan Bhumre, of working against the interests of the Maratha community and alleged that they were encouraging people to approach courts.
Jarange also criticised some members of the Maratha community who, according to him, were speaking against the community because of their political affiliations.
He said he had met scholars and reservation activists at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna on Sunday to discuss proposed changes to government orders concerning the community's demands.
Jarange also alleged that there was growing anger among students, businessmen, farmers, micro-OBC groups, and Adivasis.
(With inputs from PTI)
