Manoj Jarange Patil has announced a massive march to Mumbai as his hunger strike enters its 13th day, rejecting government delays and demanding Kunbi caste certificates for the Maratha community.

  • Manoj Jarange Patil announces a march to Mumbai, date to be finalized on September 12.
  • Protesters demand validation of Kunbi certificates based on Hyderabad and Satara Gazette records.
  • Tensions rise between the activist and the Mahayuti government, specifically targeting DCM Eknath Shinde.

The Maratha reservation movement in Maharashtra has reached a critical boiling point. Manoj Jarange Patil, the face of the current agitation, has declared that protesters will head to Mumbai to intensify their demands. This announcement comes as his indefinite hunger strike entered its 13th day on Thursday, September 10, 2026, signaling a shift from stationary protest to active mobilization.

At the heart of the dispute is the validation of Kunbi caste certificates. Mr. Jarange Patil is demanding that the state government issue and validate certificates for eligible Maratha community members based on historical entries in the Hyderabad and Satara Gazette records. The protesters are concerned that current government camps may be designed to cancel existing certificates rather than facilitate new ones.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this is not merely a bureaucratic dispute over certificates but a high-stakes political gamble. The Maratha community holds significant electoral sway in Maharashtra. By moving the protest to Mumbai, Jarange Patil is attempting to paralyze the state's financial capital to force an immediate legislative solution, bypassing the slow-moving administrative delegations.

The government, represented by Mahayuti ministers Uday Samant and Chandrashekhar Bawankule, claims that steps are being taken to resolve the issue by September 12 through the implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for OBC category reservations. However, the activist has expressed deep skepticism regarding these promises.

The shift from local hunger strikes to a centralized march on Mumbai indicates a breakdown in trust between the grassroots leadership and the state executive.

The political landscape has further soured as Jarange Patil accused Maratha quota sub-committee chairman Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil of betrayal. He also targeted DCM Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat, claiming that political interests are now outweighing the community's needs.

Adding fuel to the fire, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has accused the Mahayuti alliance of using the activist for political gains and subsequently attempting to suppress the movement, further polarizing the state's political atmosphere.

Did You Know?: The Kunbi caste is a traditional agrarian community in Maharashtra, and securing this status allows Marathas to access benefits under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is Manoj Jarange Patil marching to Mumbai?
He is marching to pressure the government to validate Kunbi certificates for the Maratha community and secure reservation benefits.

2. What is the significance of the Hyderabad and Satara Gazettes?
These historical records are used as legal evidence to prove that certain Maratha families were historically recorded as Kunbis, making them eligible for OBC status.