Manoj Jarange Begins Mumbai Journey Despite Police Refusal for Azad Maidan Protest (Videos)
Undeterred by the Mumbai Police’s refusal to grant permission for his proposed demonstration at Azad Maidan, fasting activist Manoj Jarange left his native village of Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district on Tuesday morning, setting off for the state capital.
Undeterred by the Mumbai Police’s refusal to grant permission for his proposed demonstration at Azad Maidan, fasting activist Manoj Jarange left his native village of Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district on Tuesday morning, setting off for the state capital.
Jarange, whose indefinite hunger strike for the Maratha reservation reached its 17th day on Tuesday, initiated the journey despite explicit warnings from law enforcement agencies. Authorities rejected his request for a mass rally at Azad Maidan, citing public safety and potential disruption during the ongoing Ganesh festival, which requires heavy police deployment across the metropolis. Mumbai Police Denies Permission for Manoj Jarange Patil's Azad Maidan Hunger Strike for Second Time.
To bypass security blockades while keeping the agitation active, Jarange modified his initial plan of marching with thousands of supporters. Instead, he set out with a minimal convoy of two vehicles, two ambulances, and a select group of close associates, urging his broader follower base to stay back initially and avoid clashes with security personnel. Heavy security cover has been deployed along his transit route, which covers key halts in Beed, Ahilyanagar, Pune, and Raigad before reaching Mumbai.
The activist’s primary demand centers on issuing Kunbi caste certificates to all members of the Maratha community based on historical records, effectively enabling them to claim reservation benefits under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. While the Maharashtra state government maintains that it has satisfied most of the activist's procedural demands and continues to pursue legal channels, Jarange insists on immediate, enforceable government resolutions. Maratha Quota Activist Manoj Jarange Patil Leaves Jalna for Mumbai to Begin Indefinite Fast over Reservation Demands.
Manoj Jarange Leaves for Mumbai Despite Police Denial
#WATCH | Jalna | Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil leaves for Mumbai. On 13th September, Patil had announced that he would sit on a fast unto death at Mumbai's Azad Maidan at 10 am on September 19 if the demands of the Maratha community were not met in the next few… https://t.co/lhsjevh1Jz pic.twitter.com/9V3Hzk2D6B
— ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2026
Jarange has stated he intends to launch his hunger strike at Azad Maidan on September 19, warning that if authorities attempt to detain him or block his entry into the city, his supporters across the state will march to Mumbai to join the protest.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 15, 2026 03:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
