13 September,2026 05:00 PM IST | Jalna (Maharashtra) | mid-day online correspondent
Jarange has announced that he and his supporters will leave Antarwali Sarati for Mumbai on September 15. Pic/PTI
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Sunday alleged that there was a conspiracy to target him and create trouble during his march to Mumbai on September 19, while insisting that he would not give in to pressure, reported the PTI.
Jarange, whose hunger strike entered its 16th day on Sunday, made the allegations while addressing supporters and media persons at the protest site in Antarwali Sarati village in Maharashtra's Jalna district.
"I will accept death, but I will not surrender," Jarange said, adding that the government still had eight days to resolve the Maratha reservation issue before his proposed agitation in Mumbai, the news agency reported.
Jarange has announced that he and his supporters will leave Antarwali Sarati for Mumbai on September 15.
He said he plans to reach Mumbai on September 19 and begin an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan at 10 am, demanding reservation for the Maratha community in jobs and education.
The proposed march will take place during the Ganeshotsav 2026, which is scheduled from September 14 to 25.
Jarange said an application had been submitted seeking permission for the protest and maintained that the government could impose conditions if required.
"I am going to Mumbai. What is my mistake? Am I violating the law?" he asked, saying he would continue with the planned agitation, according to the PTI.
Jarange alleged that people linked to the ruling parties could be sent into the march to create chaos and target him.
He also claimed that some Maratha MLAs from the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena had contacted his supporters and asked them not to join the march.
"There is a conspiracy to shoot me during the march," he alleged, claiming that the intention was to target him rather than the wider Maratha community.
Jarange appealed to supporters who were afraid not to join the agitation, but also made an emotional appeal for them to march to Mumbai and, if necessary, even join his funeral procession.
Jarange targeted Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, alleging that people in power were conspiring against him.
He also warned that his supporters could politically challenge some ministers if the government failed to address their demands.
Jarange said he would not be intimidated by government inquiries against him or his associates.
One of Jarange's main demands is for the government to issue a Government Resolution (GR) allowing eligible Marathas to claim reservation available to the Kunbi community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, based on old records and gazette documents.
He claimed that 58 lakh Kunbi records had been found and demanded that certificates be issued to eligible Marathas.
OBC groups have opposed the demand, arguing that extending reservation benefits to Marathas could affect their existing share.
Jarange maintained that the proposed Mumbai agitation would be peaceful and democratic and appealed to Marathas to participate.
He also said recent rainfall had provided relief to farmers following a difficult period and that agricultural work was largely complete, making it easier for supporters to travel to Mumbai.
On Friday, the Bombay High Court refused to pass an urgent order seeking to stop Jarange's proposed protest in Mumbai.
The court observed that every person has the right to protest and said a restraining order could not be issued merely on the apprehension of a law and order problem.
Jarange had previously launched an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan on August 29 last year over the Maratha reservation demand. The protest led to disruption in parts of Mumbai before it was called off after the government accepted some of his demands.
(with PTI inputs)
