‘We want reservations, government should not test patience,’ says Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil

Marathi activist Manoj Jarange Patil said on Saturday (August 30) that the government should not test the patience of the Marathi community on the issue of reservation.

“We only want reservations. The government should not test the patience of the Maratha community,” Jarange was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Patil is in Mumbai to demand Maratha quota for education and government jobs. He continued his hunger strike for the second day as he protested at Azad Maidan in Mumbai.

Jarange demands 10% quota for Marathas in the Other Backward Castes (OBC) category. He wants Marathas to be recognized as Kunbis, an agrarian caste included in the OBC category, which would make them eligible for reservation in government jobs and education.

Supporters of Maratha quota in Mumbai

As Jarange continued his fast for the second day, a large number of his supporters were seen protesting on roads and at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), affecting the traffic situation in the city.

Mumbai Police officials and RPF personnel continued to monitor the situation across the city.

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Extension of mandate of committee issuing caste certificates

The Maharashtra government has extended the tenure of the committee that issues caste certificates and their validity till June 30, 2026.

News agency ANI reported, quoting Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat, that the Maharashtra government has extended the mandate of the genealogy committee formed under the chairmanship of the Tehsildar at the taluka level to issue caste certificates and caste validity certificates of Kunbi, Maratha-Kunbi and Kunbi-Maratha castes to eligible persons of the community State Maratha till June 30, 2026.

The decision was issued by the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department of the Maharashtra government.

Doctors will continue examining Jarange

To check the health condition of the Maratha activist, an ambulance was provided at the protest venue.

“On behalf of Marathwada Maratha Medical Association, we are making ambulance and medical facilities available to (Manoj Jarange Patil)… We are checking his basic parameters regularly… We will do his routine check-up now,” Dr Kale told ANI.

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Amit Shah, Fadnavis set to meet Jarange, says Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut told reporters on August 30 that Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis are expected to meet Jarange.

“Maratha leader Manoj Jarange Patil is protesting in Mumbai, the court should not intervene. The protest is peaceful, and now CM Devendra Fadnavis should go and meet Jarange Patil; otherwise, the situation will deteriorate,” he said.

“Union Home Minister Amit Shah should shed his arrogance and meet him too, since the issue of reservation falls under the Home Ministry… but he is coming here just to have fun,” Raut added, according to PTI.