Alina
Jarange Declares Victory in Maharashtra
Introduction
The decades-long struggle of the Maratha community for reservation in education and government jobs reached a crucial milestone on September 2, 2024, when the Maharashtra government’s cabinet sub-committee accepted the core demands raised by activist Manoj Jarange Patil. The activist, who had been on an indefinite hunger strike since August 29 at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, declared “We have won” after holding discussions with the committee headed by senior minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil.
Jarange’s announcement sparked a wave of celebrations among thousands of Maratha quota supporters, many of whom had gathered at the protest site with hopes pinned on a breakthrough. The government’s decision to extend recognition to Marathas with Kunbi records, issue caste certificates after verification, withdraw cases filed against protesters, and provide financial aid to kin of deceased protesters marks a significant political development in Maharashtra’s turbulent reservation politics.
Background: The Maratha Quota Movement
The Maratha community, one of the largest and most politically influential groups in Maharashtra, has been at the forefront of reservation demands for over three decades. Historically considered a dominant agrarian caste, the Marathas’ socioeconomic conditions have worsened due to declining agricultural returns, lack of employment opportunities, and rising aspirations for education and white-collar jobs.
The demand for reservation under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category gained momentum after courts struck down earlier attempts by the state government to provide a separate Maratha quota on grounds of exceeding the 50% cap imposed by the Supreme Court. Activists like Manoj Jarange argued that Marathas with documentary evidence of Kunbi lineage—a community already classified under OBC—should be granted Kunbi caste certificates, thereby making them eligible for OBC quota benefits.
The Hunger Strike and Its Build-Up
On August 29, 2024, Jarange began his hunger strike at Azad Maidan, a historic protest ground in south Mumbai. His key demand was that the state issue Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Marathas and implement provisions of the Hyderabad and Satara Gazettes, which historically documented the Kunbi-Maratha linkage.
Jarange also pressed for:
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10% reservation in jobs and education under the OBC grouping.
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Withdrawal of police cases filed against Maratha quota protesters.
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Compensation and jobs for families of those who died during the agitation.
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Clear government resolutions (GRs) to formalize the assurances.
The hunger strike attracted massive crowds of Maratha community members, political supporters, and civil society activists. The pressure on the state government escalated quickly, forcing the formation of a cabinet sub-committee to engage with the activist.
The Government’s Response
A delegation led by Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, accompanied by ministers Shivendrasinh Bhosale, Uday Samant, and Manikrao Kokate, met Jarange on September 2 at Azad Maidan. After hours of discussions, the committee presented a draft that accepted most of his demands.
Key Assurances Made by the Government:
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Implementation of the Hyderabad Gazette: The government agreed to recognize and implement historical records linking Marathas with the Kunbi community. A government resolution will be issued immediately.
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Satara Gazette: Its implementation will be completed within a month.
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Caste Certificates: Marathas possessing Kunbi records will be provided caste certificates after due inquiry.
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Withdrawal of Cases: All police cases registered against Maratha protesters during previous agitations will be withdrawn by the end of September.
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Compensation and Jobs: Families of deceased protesters will receive financial aid and government jobs as per qualifications. So far, Rs 15 crore has been disbursed, with the remainder to be cleared within a week.
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Legal Measures: The government will explore legal avenues to issue a GR equating Marathas and Kunbis as one community. However, this process may take up to two months.
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Addressing Objections: Around 8 lakh objections were filed regarding the “sage soyare” (blood relatives) notification. The government sought additional time to scrutinize these.
Jarange Declares Victory
After reviewing the draft, Jarange read out the accepted points to his supporters and announced:
“We have won. The government has accepted our demands, and justice for the Maratha community is now closer to reality.”
He further declared that the protest would conclude if the government issued the promised GRs by evening. He assured his supporters that their sacrifices had not gone in vain and that the state had been compelled to act.
Jarange also emphasized that the decision was not just a victory for him personally but a collective triumph for the Maratha community that had stood united through years of struggle.
Celebrations Among Supporters
The announcement triggered an outburst of celebrations at Azad Maidan. Supporters waved flags, chanted slogans, distributed sweets, and hailed Jarange as a hero who had compelled the state government to take action.
Many families, who had camped at the protest site for days, expressed relief that the hunger strike had ended peacefully with positive results. Leaders of various Maratha organizations praised Jarange’s determination, while political observers noted that his ability to mobilize the community made him an important figure in Maharashtra’s social and political landscape.
Political Implications
The acceptance of Maratha demands is likely to have wide-ranging political implications in Maharashtra, a state heading towards crucial electoral battles in the near future.
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For the State Government: The ruling coalition, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde with support from BJP and Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction, avoided a potentially explosive law-and-order crisis by conceding to Jarange’s demands. The decision also helps them secure goodwill among Maratha voters.
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For Opposition Parties: The Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) are expected to highlight their historical support for Maratha reservation, but Jarange’s independent leadership may limit their ability to claim credit.
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For Jarange Himself: By forcing the government’s hand, Jarange has emerged as a powerful community leader. His future role could extend beyond activism into mainstream politics if he chooses to take that path.
Challenges Ahead
While the agreement marks a breakthrough, several challenges remain:
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Legal Scrutiny: Any government resolution equating Marathas with Kunbis is likely to face legal challenges. The state will need to ensure compliance with Supreme Court judgments on reservation limits.
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Implementation Delays: Bureaucratic hurdles could slow down the issuance of caste certificates and compensation packages.
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Community Expectations: With hopes now raised, the government will face pressure to deliver swiftly. Failure to do so could reignite protests.
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Balancing Other Communities: Extending OBC benefits to Marathas may spark resentment among other OBC groups who fear losing their share in quotas.
Historical Significance of the Hyderabad and Satara Gazettes
The Hyderabad and Satara Gazettes are critical to the Maratha reservation discourse. These colonial-era records recognize overlaps between the Maratha and Kunbi communities in certain regions. Activists argue that this historical linkage provides a legal basis for granting Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas.
By agreeing to implement these gazettes, the Maharashtra government has signaled its willingness to use historical documentation as a tool to address contemporary social justice demands.
Conclusion
The resolution of the Manoj Jarange-led protest represents a watershed moment in Maharashtra’s Maratha quota movement. For the first time, the government has officially committed to implementing measures that recognize the Maratha community’s eligibility for OBC benefits.
Jarange’s hunger strike, his uncompromising stance, and the eventual acceptance of demands demonstrate the power of sustained, peaceful agitation in shaping policy. While challenges of implementation and legal scrutiny remain, the developments of September 2, 2024, will go down in history as a day when the Maratha community’s long fight for justice achieved a decisive breakthrough.
As celebrations echoed across Azad Maidan and beyond, one message was clear: the Maratha reservation issue has entered a new phase—one where promises must be translated into action, and the community’s faith in governance must be justified.
