Manoj Jarange Patil Ends 20-Day Fast, Gives Maharashtra Govt 3 Months To Meet Maratha Quota Demands

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil on Thursday, September 17, ended his 20-day hunger strike and gave the Maharashtra government three months to consider and act on his demands, temporarily putting his planned Mumbai agitation on hold. The decision came after the government sent him a draft proposal and held talks with him in Patoda, Beed district. Jarange Patil said the broader agitation would continue if his demands were not addressed within the deadline.

The development followed a difficult day for the activist, whose prolonged fast and journey towards Mumbai had affected his health. Jarange Patil had reached Patoda in the early hours of Wednesday and was advised by doctors to undergo immediate treatment because of severe dehydration and other complications. He had initially said he would resume his journey to Mumbai after 1 pm on Thursday. Manoj Jarange Begins Mumbai Journey Despite Police Refusal for Azad Maidan Protest (Videos).

Manoj Jarange Patil Ends 20-Day Fast, Gives Maharashtra Govt 3 Months to Meet Demands

Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange calls off 20-day-old fast, gives Maharashtra Govt three months to consider his demands.#ManojJarange #MarathaReservation pic.twitter.com/6DAAlLADxo

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 17, 2026

Government Sends Draft Proposal

The Maharashtra government sent a draft proposal to Jarange Patil on Wednesday, the 19th day of his indefinite hunger strike, after maintaining a firm position on his demands for several days. The government also appealed to him to withdraw the fast and cancel his planned march to Mumbai, citing concerns over disruption during the Ganesh festival.

Jarange Patil had remained open to talks but had insisted that he would proceed towards Mumbai unless there was concrete movement from the government. His decision to end the fast came after discussions with a government delegation in Patoda. He has now given the government three months to act on the demands. Health Concerns During Mumbai March

Jarange Patil had been fasting while travelling from Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district towards Mumbai. On Wednesday, he halted in Patoda after doctors raised concerns about his health. Reports said he was suffering from severe dehydration and other complications linked to the prolonged fast and the physical strain of the journey. Mumbai Police Denies Permission for Manoj Jarange Patil's Azad Maidan Hunger Strike for Second Time.

Before the latest decision, Jarange Patil had said: ''I was not going to listen to anyone, but religious leaders from Narayangad asked me to take medication. But I will leave for Mumbai tomorrow after 1 pm. I will undergo treatment tonight and will leave tomorrow.''

He had also said he would not immediately announce when supporters should travel to Mumbai because he was waiting for the government's latest proposal. ''I will not announce any date for members of the Maratha community to come to Mumbai. A new draft (of proposals) may come from the government in an hour or so. So I will not announce the date now," he said.

What Manoj Jarange Patil Is Demanding

A central demand of the agitation is the issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Marathas, which would allow those who qualify to access reservation benefits under the Other Backward Classes category. Jarange Patil has also sought implementation of provisions linked to the Hyderabad, Satara and Kolhapur gazetteers and the use of historical records to establish Kunbi lineage.

He has said: “They should revise the government resolution issued to implement the Hyderabad Gazetteer and streamline the issuance of Kunbi certificates. There should be a time-bound assurance for implementing the Satara and Kolhapur gazetteers. Kunbi certificates should be issued on the basis of all 5.8 million records related to Kunbi lineage collected by the government."

"The government should also ensure that caste validity committees clear all the certificates issued by the government,” he said, insisting that the assurances come from chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Government And Activist Differ On Progress

The Maharashtra government has said that a substantial number of Jarange-Patil's demands have already been addressed or accepted, while the activist has maintained that key commitments concerning Kunbi certificates and the relevant gazetteers remain unresolved.

The government has also been examining historical records linked to Kunbi ancestry. A government-appointed committee has identified about 58 lakh records, while authorities have issued hundreds of thousands of Kunbi certificates, according to earlier reporting. The latest government proposal was intended to address some of the outstanding issues and persuade Jarange Patil to withdraw his planned Mumbai protest.

Mumbai Protest Put On Hold For Now

Jarange-Patil had previously planned to reach Mumbai and stage a protest at Azad Maidan after beginning his journey from Antarwali Sarati. His proposed route included stops in Beed, Ahilyanagar, Pune and Raigad before reaching Mumbai. The timing had raised concerns for the state administration because the march coincided with the Ganesh festival.

With the fast now called off and the government given three months, the immediate plan to resume the Mumbai agitation has been put on hold. Jarange Patil has nevertheless made clear that the wider Maratha reservation movement will continue and that further action could follow if the government does not meet his demands within the three-month period.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 17, 2026 08:11 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).