Govt promises clarity on Jarange-Patil demands by May 28

Jarange-Patil has announced an indefinite hunger strike in his village of Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district, nine months after a massive protest in Mumbai got the state to concede some ground relating to reservations for the Maratha community. He reminded Lad on Friday that assurances made in August last year had still not been implemented

MUMBAI: After Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil announced another indefinite hunger strike from May 30, the state government has assured him of a roadmap by May 28, on steps it will take to address his demands. This was discussed at a meeting between BJP MLC Prasad Lad, a close aide of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Jarange-Patil in Jalna on Friday.

Mumbai, India – 24 Mar 2026: Maratha leader Manoj Jarange Pati at Azad Maidan to support on 9th day of hunger strike by Dhangar reservation agitator Deepak Borhade who fight for get reservation to e Dhangar community from the ST category, in Mumbai, India, on Tuesday, 24 Mar, 2026. (Photo by Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo)

An agitation at this point would put considerable pressure on the government, which is attempting to contain unrest in parts of the state due to a fuel shortage ahead of the sowing seasons. The fallout of the NEET paper leak and consequent re-exam also has students worried. The government is therefore expected to persuade Jarange-Patil to defer his protest, if not altogether call if off, said sources in the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

Jarange-Patil has announced an indefinite hunger strike in his village of Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district, nine months after a massive protest in Mumbai got the state to concede some ground relating to reservations for the Maratha community. He reminded Lad on Friday that assurances made in August last year had still not been implemented.

Jarange-Patil also said cases registered against Maratha activists during the quota protests had not yet been withdrawn by the government. Also, the financial development corporation, which was to provide funding for entrepreneurial projects to the Maratha community, had not been allocated funds.

He also demanded that the committee headed by retired judge Sandeep Shinde be given a one-year extension so that it could collate more Kunbi-related documents, enabling Marathas to avail the OBC quota.

“Welcoming the government’s initiative for dialogue, I apprised Lad about our pending eight to nine demands and expect them to be resolved before May 30. Lad assured me he would take up the issues with the cabinet sub-committee appointed for the Maratha quota and, if needed, with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, and get back to us by May 28. We have not withdrawn our protest call, and if the demands are not met, we will go ahead with the scheduled protest,” he said.

Jarange-Patil added that since the government had reached out to him, he had asked community members to put their pre-protest meetings on hold. “Since the meetings convened for preparations and planning have been put on hold, the planning process is likely to be affected. In such a situation, I may have to begin the protest alone. In that case, I will appeal to community members not to come to Antarwali Sarati to join the protest,” he said.

Lad said he would discuss the unresolved demands with the government. “I am confident that Jarange-Patil will be satisfied with the efforts being made by the government to address the demands of the Maratha community. I told the activist that no other government has done as much for the Maratha community as the Fadnavis government has. I stand with the Maratha community and, as a member of the community, I will not hesitate to give up my membership in the Legislative Council,” he said.