Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil escalates his agitation at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan with an indefinite hunger strike. He demands immediate withdrawal of all cases against protestors and calls for inclusion of Marathas under OBC quota, causing major disruptions across the city.

Maratha Quota Protest in Mumbai Intensifies as Jarange-Patil Demands Withdrawal of All Cases

Activist Launches Hunger Strike, City Braces for Prolonged Stand-Off

Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil launched an indefinite hunger strike at Mumbai’s historic Azad Maidan on August 29, 2025, demanding that Marathas be classified as Other Backward Classes (OBC) and that all pending police cases against protestors be immediately withdrawn.

Over 30,000 supporters surrounded him, bringing South Mumbai to a virtual halt, as the agitation extended into its second day. City traffic snarled, and key institutions like the BMC headquarters, museums, and bookstores closed or canceled events.

Protesters Defy Rain, Hunger and Disruption to Press Their Demands

Despite heavy rains, protestors set up camp on footpaths and even cooked by the roadside, showing their resolve to remain until their demands are met. Jarange-Patil threatened to escalate further, warning he might stop drinking water soon if the government did not respond. He declared this was his “final fight,” stating, “either bullets or hunger strike will kill me,” elevating the emotional intensity of his protest.

Government Engagement and Political Reactions

The Maharashtra government, under mounting pressure, formed a cabinet sub-committee headed by Radhakrishnan Vikhe-Patil to engage with Jarange-Patil. The activist, however, criticized the government’s approach—including the appointment of Justice Sandeep Shinde for discussions—as an insult to both the assembly and the community.

Opposition figures also weighed in. Uddhav Thackeray criticized the government’s delayed response and urged immediate dialogue, while Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis expressed concern over the unrest but stopped short of promising immediate concessions.

Jarange-Patil’s demands include:

10% OBC quota for Marathas;
Recognition as Kunbi, an agrarian caste already enjoying OBC benefits, thus enabling broader reservation rights;
Withdrawal of all police cases against Maratha agitators from earlier protests.

He also bluntly warned officials that if his demands weren’t met, protestors might resort to sabotage, including disrupting pipelines during CM’s public gatherings.

City in Turmoil – Traffic Gridlock and Civic Disruptions

The protest’s ripple effects were felt across the city. Roadblocks at Breach Candy, Fort, Eastern Freeway, and near CSMT and Churchgate stations brought traffic to a near standstill. Civic operations were disrupted, with institutions such as Kitabkhana bookstore and CSMVS Museum canceling or postponing events.

Housing conditions at Azad Maidan were reported to be inadequate. Protestors complained of poor facilities, muddy grounds, and disrupted deliveries, while the BMC stated it had provided mobile toilets, free pay-and-use facilities, gravel for access paths, and some relief measures.

With Jarange-Patil refusing to budge and threatening further escalation, including water withdrawal or distributing his movement pan-Maharashtra, authorities granted only a one-day extension of protest permission.

The protest continues into August 30, 2025, with Maratha agitators breathing new life into the reservation movement—their endurance a potent symbol of mounting social pressure on Maharashtra’s political establishment

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