Jarange, who is pressing for Maratha reservation, made the declaration during a press conference on Sunday afternoon, stressing that his agitation will continue until the government meets his demands
Manoj Jarange. Pic/PTI
Maratha activist Manoj Jarange has announced that he will escalate his ongoing hunger strike by giving up water from Monday, marking the fourth day of his indefinite protest at Azad Maidan. Jarange, who is pressing for Maratha reservation, made the declaration during a press conference on Sunday afternoon, stressing that his agitation will continue until the government meets his demands.
Jarange’s protest entered its third day on Sunday, a day after he refused to meet a state government delegation led by retired High Court judge Sandeep Shinde, who heads the committee formed to expedite the quota process. The 43-year-old activist dismissed the move, arguing that it is not within Justice Shinde’s powers to issue a Government Resolution (GR) granting reservation. “The government must take a concrete decision. This is not Justice Shinde’s job,” Jarange said, reiterating that the agitation would continue with greater intensity.
The protest has drawn thousands of Maratha community members to South Mumbai, with heavy crowds spilling over into nearby Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and adjoining areas. The influx of demonstrators has led to traffic congestion around the Azad Maidan protest site. Mumbai Police, which had initially allowed the protest for two days, extended permission by another day on Saturday, given the surging turnout.
The BJP-led Maharashtra government has maintained that it is working within the constitutional and legal framework to find a solution. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has urged patience, while NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar remarked that a constitutional amendment may be necessary to raise the cap on overall reservations.
Jarange has demanded a 10 per cent quota for Marathas and their recognition as Kunbis, an agrarian caste classified under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, which would make them eligible for benefits in education and government jobs. However, this demand has sparked resistance from OBC leaders, who argue that it would dilute existing reservations.
This is not the first time Jarange has resorted to extreme measures—he has previously launched hunger strikes on seven occasions. Calling the current protest the community’s “final fight,” the activist has warned that the agitation will continue until the government delivers a decisive outcome.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
