Maratha Reservation Protest: Activist Manoj Jarange's Peaceful Approach

Pune, August 28 (PTI) – Activist Manoj Jarange, leading a movement advocating for reservation for the Maratha community, has reached the base of Shivneri Fort in Pune district with hundreds of supporters this Thursday morning. He is expected to pay homage to the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, a renowned Maratha warrior king.

Jarange departed from Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district on Wednesday, embarking on a journey of over 400 km to Mumbai to initiate a new hunger strike. He has, however, agreed to meet with a government delegation near Pune en route to the state capital. The 43-year-old activist has been demanding a 10 percent reservation for Marathas under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

In Jalna, Jarange informed reporters about receiving a call from Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil. He mentioned that a government team was expected to meet him at Shivneri for discussions. Contrarily, Vikhe Patil, who chairs the cabinet sub-committee on the Maratha quota, stated on Wednesday that there had been no decision at the state level to engage in talks with Jarange.

The activist has assured that his supporters will protest peacefully, ensuring no disruption to the ongoing Ganesh festival. His demand is for all Marathas to be recognized as Kunbis—an agrarian caste already included in the OBC category—thus making them eligible for reservations in government jobs and education.

The Jalna police have permitted Jarange and his supporters to proceed with their march under 40 conditions, directing them to maintain law and order, avoid disrupting vehicular movement, and refrain from chanting "objectionable" slogans.

In Mumbai, a senior inspector from the Azad Maidan police station granted permission for peaceful protests, responding to an application by Jarange. The demonstrations at Azad Maidan on August 29 are permitted from 9 am to 6 pm, after which all protesters must vacate the area. Upon entering Mumbai, only five vehicles carrying the main protesters can proceed to Azad Maidan, with the number of participants capped at 5,000.

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