MUMBAI — The confrontation between the Maharashtra state administration and Manoj Jarange-Patil reached a boiling point on Sunday after Mumbai Police officially denied permission for the activist’s planned indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan, setting the stage for a law-and-order showdown in the capital.
In a detailed six-page order, Senior Inspector Raja Bidkar of Azad Maidan police station rejected the application submitted by Jarange-Patil’s team. Police authorities cited heavy force deployment required for the ongoing Ganeshotsav celebrations (September 14–25) and highlighted severe traffic gridlocks around Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) caused by previous unsanctioned crowd surges during earlier Maratha demonstrations.
‘I Will Accept Death, But Not Surrender’
Reaching the 16th day of his current fast in Antarwali Sarati, Jalna, Jarange-Patil launched a blistering attack on the state government, labeling the denial an act of “dictatorship” aimed at suppressing a peaceful movement.
“Why do they assume we will violate the rules before the protest even begins? Under what law is this government functioning?” Jarange asked, confirming his legal team will challenge the order while maintaining his plan to march to Mumbai on September 15.
The activist cited a recent observation by the Bombay High Court, which declined to issue an injunction against his planned stir, affirming the constitutional right to protest. Escalating his agitation, Jarange announced he would cease medical aid and fluid intake, while alleging a plot by political adversaries to target his life during the march.
“There is a conspiracy to shoot me during the march… I will accept death, but I will not surrender,” he asserted, calling on his followers to march toward Mumbai regardless of police barricades.
The OBC Quota Friction
Jarange-Patil’s primary demand centers on the issuance of an immediate Government Resolution (GR) recognizing Marathas as Kunbis—a sub-caste categorized under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) umbrella. Citing historical archives, Jarange claimed that 58 lakh Kunbi records have been verified and urged the state to distribute caste certificates without delay.
The demand remains fiercely contested by established OBC groups, who argue that adding the sizable Maratha population to their existing quota pool would dilute their constitutionally protected benefits.
Directly targeting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Jarange accused the ruling alliance of pressuring Maratha legislators from the BJP and Shiv Sena to discourage public participation. As the Maratha march prepares to move toward the capital, the state administration remains on high alert to avert potential security breakdowns during the peak festive week.
