Maharashtra's Crucible: Manoj Jarange-Patil Reignites Maratha Reservation Battle with Indefinite Hunger Strike

In a dramatic escalation of the long-standing Maratha reservation saga, activist Manoj Jarange-Patil has once again embarked on an indefinite hunger strike. From the heart of Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, Jarange-Patil declared his unwavering resolve, vowing to abstain from food until the Maharashtra government delivers on its long-pending promise to grant reservation to the Maratha community.

This isn't Jarange-Patil's first stand.

His previous hunger strike in August had gripped the state, culminating in a significant assurance from the Eknath Shinde-led government. That promise led to the formation of the Justice Sandeep Shinde committee, tasked with meticulously examining and verifying old Kunbi records to identify Marathas who could be eligible for Other Backward Class (OBC) status, thereby facilitating their inclusion under existing reservation quotas.

However, the initial hope that flared across Maharashtra has, according to Jarange-Patil, dwindled into profound disappointment.

"The government has not fulfilled its promise. They have been deceitful," he asserted, his voice reflecting the deep-seated frustration of a community that has felt marginalized for decades. He alleges that despite the committee's mandate, progress has been deliberately slow, and the process is potentially being manipulated to deny the community its rightful due.

Jarange-Patil's central demand remains unequivocal: all Marathas, particularly those with Kunbi lineage, must be granted OBC certificates without further delay.

He stresses that historical records, often dating back to the Nizam era, clearly demonstrate a significant overlap between the Maratha and Kunbi communities, making a strong case for their inclusion in the OBC category. The activist has warned that if the government continues to stall, the protests will not merely intensify but could spiral into a broader, more impactful movement across the state, paralyzing daily life and posing a severe challenge to the administration.

The political stakes are incredibly high for the ruling coalition in Maharashtra.

With elections on the horizon, the Maratha vote bank is crucial, and the government finds itself in a precarious position, balancing the demands of the Maratha community with potential backlash from existing OBC groups. Jarange-Patil's renewed agitation serves as a stark reminder that the issue of Maratha reservation is far from resolved and continues to be a volatile flashpoint in the state's socio-political landscape.

As the activist endures his fast, the eyes of Maharashtra, and indeed the nation, are fixed on Antarwali Sarati, awaiting the government's response to this escalating crisis.