Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil on Friday, 28 August issued a sharp ultimatum to the Maharashtra government, warning that six crore Marathas could descend on Mumbai in five phases if their demands over Kunbi caste certificates remain unaddressed. The warning came from Antarwali Sarati in Jalna, a day before his proposed indefinite hunger strike was set to begin on 29 August.

Key Demands Placed Before the Government

Jarange Patil presented a detailed charter of demands, insisting that senior administrative officers travel to Antarwali Sarati to spell out a clear framework for certificate distribution. He demanded immediate issuance of valid Kunbi caste certificates to all 58 lakh identified record holders, along with the release of Government Resolutions (GRs) incorporating the Satara, Kolhapur, Aundh, and Pune gazettes.

Additional demands include immediate job appointments for families of those who died during the Maratha reservation agitation, the establishment of an independent Maratha-Kunbi Ministry, and the restoration of halted schemes under SARTHI (Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research, Training and Human Development Institute). He also called for release of pending interest reimbursements under the Annasaheb Patil Arthik Vikas Mahamandal and reinstatement of four revoked caste certificates in the Marathwada region.

Attack on State Leadership

Speaking to reporters, Jarange Patil trained his fire on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Cabinet Sub-Committee Chairman Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil. He alleged that while the government had initially extended benefits to the community, it was now 'undermining' that progress. 'Do not play with the lives of Maratha youth,' he said, alleging that officials were actively attempting to reduce the scope of the verified 58 lakh Kunbi records that had been made public.

He also criticised Sub-Committee Chairman Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil for what he described as a lack of awareness about ground-level verification procedures, and warned ministers Uday Samant, Shambhuraj Desai, and Chandrashekhar Bawankule against misleading the community.

Roadmap of the Agitation

Jarange Patil outlined a clear escalation path: the agitation would begin at Antarwali Sarati on 29 August and shift directly to Mumbai — specifically targeting the Chief Minister's official residence, Varsha — if the administration fails to act. He declared his fast unto death would continue 'unconditionally' until concrete implementation occurs.

He specifically urged individuals whose Kunbi record entries were identified but who were denied certificates, those whose applications were rejected, and candidates awaiting job appointments despite being selected, to gather at Antarwali Sarati with their documents.

Call to the Community

Jarange Patil urged the Maratha community to 'shake off their lethargy and passivity' and assemble in large numbers at Antarwali Sarati. He also appealed to community members to refrain from suicides and stand united behind the movement — a pointed reference to the deaths that have occurred during earlier phases of the reservation agitation.

With the hunger strike set to begin and no breakthrough reported from the government side, the coming days are likely to test both the administration's resolve and the movement's mobilisation capacity.