On the second day of Manoj Jarange-Patil’s indefinite hunger strike at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, efforts by the state government to find common ground collapsed. Jarange has been demanding a reservation for all Marathas under the OBC category, a demand that has triggered traffic disruptions across Mumbai and drawn thousands of supporters to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and surrounding areas.
The Maharashtra government deputed a panel led by retired High Court judge Sandeep Shinde, who heads a committee tasked with expediting the reservation process. However, Jarange dismissed the talks as fruitless, insisting that the time for study was over.
“The committee has spent 13 months studying gazettes. Now is the time to act. Marathas in Marathwada must be declared Kunbis, as per the Hyderabad and Satara gazettes, and given reservation,” Jarange said.
Justice Shinde, however, clarified that he was not authorised to submit a report recommending Kunbi status, stating that the matter fell under the jurisdiction of the Backward Class Commission.
Following the inconclusive talks, Jarange openly criticised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, calling the decision to send Justice Shinde “an insult.”
“It is not Justice Shinde’s job to issue a GR (government resolution) declaring Marathas as Kunbis. The government, Raj Bhavan and the state have insulted us by sending him here,” Jarange said.
He also warned the government against spreading “misinformation” that Marathas were demanding OBC quota from existing shares. “We are only demanding what is rightfully ours under the Kunbi category,” he emphasised.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reiterated that the government was committed to finding a solution but only within the constitutional and legal framework. “The issue must be resolved through due process, respecting the limits imposed by law,” he stated.
Adding political weight to the debate, NCP (Sharadchandra faction) chief Sharad Pawar said a constitutional amendment would be necessary to raise the cap on reservations. Without such a step, he argued, fulfilling demands like Jarange’s would remain legally untenable.
Jarange also accused the city administration of deliberately withholding basic facilities from protesters at Azad Maidan. However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) countered the claim, asserting that it had made all necessary arrangements at the site.
Maharashtra Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil assured that Jarange’s concerns were being taken seriously. “The cabinet sub-committee has thoroughly discussed the matter, and the government remains committed to addressing it in a positive manner,” he said.
Despite such assurances, the deadlock persists, with Jarange refusing to end his fast until the government takes concrete steps.
The Maratha quota issue has been simmering for years, but Jarange’s current agitation, described by him as the “final fight” for Maratha rights.
While the government is attempting to buy time through committees and negotiations, Jarange’s insistence on immediate recognition of Marathas as Kunbis leaves little room for compromise. The broader challenge lies in reconciling the community’s aspirations with constitutional constraints.
