Maharashtra’s Maratha reservation movement has returned to the spotlight as activist Manoj Jarange-Patil continues an indefinite hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district. He began the latest protest on 29 August, demanding action on reservation-related issues, including Kunbi caste certificates for eligible Marathas.
On 11 September, the 14th day of his fast, Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijit Dipke met Jarange at the protest site and backed the agitation. The meeting has brought together two activists associated with different recent protests in Maharashtra and Delhi.
So, who is Manoj Jarange, what exactly is he demanding and why did Dipke go to meet him?
Who Is Manoj Jarange?
Jarange comes from Matori village in Maharashtra’s Beed district. He grew up in a farming family. His father Raosaheb and mother Prabhavati are reported to have remained involved in farming, while his brothers also live in Matori.
Jarange completed his schooling in Matori but left before completing Class 12, according to reporting by The Indian Express. He later moved to Shahgad in neighbouring Jalna district, where he worked in a hotel and later at a sugar factory. He also cultivated land. He is married to Sumitra Jarange, with his wife and children living in Shahgad.
His activism around Maratha issues predates his rise to national attention. He was associated with the Congress at the local level before leaving politics. In 2011, he founded the Shivba Sanghatana, an organisation focused on Maratha community issues.
Jarange became a major face of the reservation movement in 2023, when his hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati drew widespread attention following clashes between police and protesters. Since then, he has repeatedly used hunger strikes and marches to press the state government on Maratha reservation.
What Is The Maratha Quota Protest About?
At the centre of the current agitation is the demand that eligible Marathas with historical documentary links to the Kunbi community should be issued Kunbi certificates.
Kunbis are included in Maharashtra’s Other Backward Classes, or OBC, category. A Kunbi certificate can therefore allow an eligible person to claim benefits available under the OBC quota. Jarange has been asking the government to act on around 58 lakh Kunbi records identified over the past few years.
He has also demanded action based on historical records such as the Hyderabad and Satara gazetteers, changes to the caste-certificate verification process, withdrawal of cases filed against Maratha protesters and compensation and jobs for families of people who died during earlier agitations.
The larger reservation issue has a complicated legal history. In 2021, the Supreme Court struck down Maharashtra’s 2018 law providing separate reservation for Marathas, holding that the 50% reservation ceiling could not be breached in the circumstances presented by the state.
That is why the Kunbi route has become a major part of the present agitation.
What Has The Government Done?
The Maharashtra government has said it has already acted on several demands.
In early September, ministers met Jarange and said nearly 58 lakh Kunbi records had been identified and that the process of helping eligible applicants obtain certificates would be expedited. The government has also kept committees responsible for checking Kunbi, Maratha-Kunbi and Kunbi-Maratha records in place until June 2027.
On September 8, the government announced four measures covering education, scholarships, hostel assistance and skill development for Maratha and Kunbi youth. These included extending educational concessions available to OBC students to Maratha students from the 2026-27 academic year and releasing Rs. 200 crore towards pending hostel maintenance allowances.
The government has maintained that most of Jarange’s demands have been addressed. Jarange, however, has continued his fast, arguing that the commitments have not gone far enough.
Why Did Abhijit Dipke Meet Jarange?
Dipke travelled to Antarwali Sarati as Jarange’s hunger strike entered its 14th day.
Dipke is known for leading the Cockroach Janta Party and for his recent student-focused protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar over examination irregularities. He told Hindustan Times that he was supporting Jarange’s demand for better education and employment opportunities for the Maratha community.
After meeting Jarange, Dipke criticised the Maharashtra government for what he described as a failure to provide adequate education and employment opportunities. He also urged the government to speak directly with Jarange.
Dipke warned against any attempt to forcibly remove Jarange from the protest site, referring to Delhi Police’s removal of Sonam Wangchuk from his hunger-strike site. He said he would oppose such an action in Maharashtra. These were Dipke’s statements after the meeting and do not represent an official government position.
For now, Jarange’s fast continues at Antarwali Sarati. A meeting of Maratha representatives is scheduled for 12 September, when the next step, including the proposed Mumbai protest, is expected to be discussed.
TL;DR | News At a Glance
Who is Manoj Jarange?
Manoj Jarange-Patil is a Maratha reservation activist from Maharashtra’s Beed district who became a prominent face of the quota movement after his 2023 hunger strike.
What is he demanding?
He is seeking reservation-related measures, including Kunbi certificates for eligible Marathas linked to historical Kunbi records.
Why are Kunbi certificates important?
Kunbis fall under Maharashtra’s OBC category, so eligible Marathas recognised as Kunbis can access OBC reservation benefits.
Why did Abhijit Dipke meet him?
Dipke met Jarange on 11 September to express support for the agitation and urge the Maharashtra government to engage with him.
What has the government said?
The Maharashtra government says it has acted on several demands, including making Kunbi records available and extending education and welfare measures to Maratha and Kunbi youth.
