13 September,2026 10:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Manoj Jarange said that his legal team would challenge the order. File Pic
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange has claimed that Mumbai Police have denied permission for his proposed indefinite hunger strike in Mumbai from September 19, accusing the Maharashtra government of attempting to suppress his agitation, reported the PTI.
Jarange, whose hunger strike entered its 16th day on Sunday, described the police decision as "dictatorship" and "high-handedness". He said his legal team would challenge the order.
The activist questioned why the authorities were assuming that protesters would break rules even before the agitation had started.
He also alleged that the police decision was contrary to the directions of the Bombay High Court and questioned the legal basis on which the government was acting.
Jarange said that he respected the Constitution and judiciary but would not accept what he described as arbitrary government directives.
An official said that the police have denied nod for Jarange''s hunger strike at Azad Maidan, citing security concerns, as per the PTI.
The controversy comes days after the Bombay High Court refused to issue an urgent order seeking to stop Jarange's proposed fresh protest in Mumbai.
The court observed that people have a right to protest and said a restraining order could not be issued merely on the apprehension of possible law and order problems.
Jarange has cited the court's observations while challenging the police decision.
Jarange has said that his march towards Mumbai will begin on September 15, with his indefinite hunger strike in the city planned from September 19.
The proposed agitation comes during the Ganpati festival, which is scheduled from September 14 to 25.
Jarange rejected concerns that his protest could create law and order problems during the festival.
According to the PTI, he said Marathas also celebrate Ganesh festival and maintained that his proposed agitation would be peaceful and democratic.
He accused the government and police of trying to prevent the protest and said he would travel to Mumbai despite the denial of permission.
Jarange further said he would stop his medical treatment and fluid intake in protest against the denial of permission, as per the PTI.
He reiterated that he would not abandon his demand for reservation for the Maratha community.
Earlier on Sunday, Jarange alleged that there was a conspiracy to shoot him during his proposed march to Mumbai.
Speaking to supporters and the media at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, he claimed that those in power were planning to create trouble during the march.
Jarange urged supporters who were afraid not to join the protest, while making an emotional appeal to others to march to Mumbai with him.
He also alleged that some Maratha MLAs from the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena were contacting supporters and asking them not to participate, the news agency reported.
These allegations have been made by Jarange and were not independently established in the information available.
Jarange criticised Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, alleging that attempts were being made to weaken his movement.
He recalled that he had previously trusted Shinde and returned from Vashi in Navi Mumbai in January 2024 after the state government issued a Government Resolution (GR) relating to Maratha quota demands, the PTI reported.
Jarange said he would not be intimidated by government inquiries involving him or his associates.
A central demand of Jarange's movement is for the Maharashtra government to issue a GR allowing eligible Marathas to claim reservation available to the Kunbi community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, based on historical records and gazette documents.
Jarange claimed that 58 lakh Kunbi records had been identified and demanded that eligible Marathas be issued certificates.
OBC organisations have opposed the demand, arguing that extending reservation benefits to Marathas could affect their existing share of benefits.
Jarange had launched an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on August 29 last year over the Maratha reservation issue.
The protest led to disruption in parts of the city before it was called off after the state government agreed to some of his demands.
(with PTI inputs)
