Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil has announced his decision to launch an indefinite fast starting January 25 to intensify his push for reservation for the Maratha community in jobs and education under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. Patil, who has been at the forefront of the Maratha reservation movement, criticized the Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government for failing to deliver on its promises to the community.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Patil expressed his frustration, accusing the state government of “cheating” the Marathas by not fulfilling the commitments made during earlier negotiations. He further warned that the community would not spare the government if it continued to ignore their demands during the ongoing winter session of the Maharashtra legislature.
The activist, who has staged multiple hunger strikes in the past, emphasized that he would not relent until the state government grants the Maratha community reservation benefits under the OBC category, which is also extended to the Kunbi community. He has been pushing for the implementation of a draft notification that recognizes the Marathas as descendants of the Kunbi community, making them eligible for OBC quotas.
Patil has also called for urgent progress on the Justice (retd) Sandeep Shinde Committee, which was set up by the government to expedite the process of issuing “Kunbi” certificates, a necessary step for the Marathas to avail of reservation benefits.
Despite the Maharashtra government passing a bill in February 2024 that provides 10% reservation for Marathas under a separate category, Patil and many others are advocating for the Maratha community to be included in the OBC category, arguing that it would ensure fair access to reservations already available to the Kunbi community.
Last year, Patil conducted six hunger strikes to bring attention to this issue. His upcoming indefinite fast is intended to increase pressure on the government to take immediate action on his demands.
In a political twist, Patil had previously withdrawn his list of candidates and chose to support the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in the Maharashtra assembly elections. He had hoped to receive support from smaller caste-based allies like Dalits and Muslims, but when this did not materialize, he pulled out of the electoral race, acknowledging the challenges of campaigning solely on the basis of caste.
As the Maratha quota issue continues to simmer, Jarange Patil’s protest marks another crucial moment in the ongoing battle for social justice and reservation rights for the community.
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