Maratha quota protest is back in Maharashtra and pro-Maratha leader, Manoj Jarange Patil, is again leading the agitation seeking long-pending OBC reservation for Marathas. Patil began his indefinite hunger strike at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai on Friday, vowing not to leave the city till the community’s demands were met.

“I will die, but won’t back down this time. We will not leave Mumbai till our demands are met,” Jarange said as he began his fast at 10 am.

Speaking on the agitation, Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde said, “When I was the Chief Minister, 10% reservation was given to the Maratha community, the benefit of which is being received even today…”

“CM Devendra Fadnavis also extended reservations to the Maratha community, but the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government was unable to sustain it. I request the Maratha community that we will definitely do whatever is possible… These people (Uddhav Thackeray) are doing politics only for votes. If they had the courage, they would have done something when they were the Chief Minister. What have they done for the Maratha community? They have absolutely no moral right to speak on the Maratha community,” he added.

Maratha reservation protest

This is the second time he is leading the protest after the state government couldn’t work on his demands for the reservation the last time. On Friday, his supporters reached Azad Maidan, hitting the traffic in the city’s southern and eastern parts.

A heavy crowd gathered at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, leading to an appeal from the Central Railway which asked passengers to travel to the station only if necessary. Office-goers faced severe trouble in the day due to the large number of protesters on the streets that hit the traffic. 

In a post on X, the divisional railway manager of Central Railway said, “In view of the heavy crowd gathering in and around the CSMT station, passengers are advised to travel to CSMT only if essential and unavoidable.” 

Several commuters complained of overcrowded suburban trains and the unavailability of BEST buses at bus stops.

“All suburban stations and local trains on the Harbour line have been more crowded than usual. Maratha quota protesters were at all stations between Wadala and CSMT,” a suburban commuter said, reported PTI.

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Who is Manoj Jarange Patil?

43-year-old Manoj Jarange Patil was on Friday received by a rousing welcome from thousands of supporters, who wore saffron caps, scarves and flags, after he reached the protest venue around 9.45 am.

“I will not go back until our demands are met. I will not retreat even if I am shot dead,” he said while addressing the crowd. He asked Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis to “show his commitment to Marathas through his actions”. 

“If the state government agrees to our demands, we will withdraw the agitation,” he further said, adding, “But you have to be sincere or else, the Marathas will show their power to both the state and centre governments.”

He said the state government did not cooperate with them, ultimately forcing them to begin a march. But, who is this man, who is leading such a mass protest again building pressure on the Maharashtra government?

Last year, Jarange began his protest on January 26 (Republic Day), forcing the government to discuss his demands. He hails from the Beed district in Maharashtra. He initially joined the Maratha reservation agitation seeking quota for the community in government jobs and education about 15 years ago. 

He was part of several marches and protests and reportedly also sold 2.5 acres of agricultural land out of his four acres to meet his daily needs. He initially worked for Congress, and later went on to found the Shivba Sanghatana.

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The aim of this organisation was to ensure Maratha’s rights. This was all happening without much effect on anyone, when the Supreme Court in 2021 quashed the Maratha reservation quota. 

This was his moment. Jarange Patil took part in the protests that hit the streets after the order. He also joined a three-month agitation in Sasht-Pimpalgaon in Jalna district. His declaration of hunger strike, and police trying to remove the protesters on the fourth day, led him to the limelight. 

The agitation, police actions like lathi charge, teargas shells, and made the headlines, and now everyone knew Manoj Jarange-Patil.