Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil on Monday, 24 August held high-stakes talks with a senior Maharashtra government delegation at Sarpanch's farm in Antarwali Sarati, Jalna, standing firm on his demand that certificates be issued for all 58 lakh Kunbi records before his announced indefinite hunger strike begins on 29 August. The meeting underscored the deepening impasse between the Maratha community and the state administration over the on-ground implementation of reservation benefits.

Key Demands Placed Before the Delegation

Jarange Patil confronted the ministerial team over the non-issuance of Kunbi caste certificates and the sluggish execution of Government Resolutions (GRs). He insisted that the full list of 58 lakh Kunbi records — including 2 lakh newly identified entries — be immediately displayed at every Talathi and Gram Sevak office across Maharashtra's villages. He also demanded that the procedure for obtaining certificates be communicated to the Maratha community in plain language.

'The government must distribute certificates for all remaining records before August 28. We are not against our OBC brothers, but we will not tolerate any foul play,' Jarange Patil said. He warned that any attempt to alter or reduce the record count would not be accepted.

The Ministerial Delegation and What Was Said

The delegation comprised Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Maratha Reservation; Uday Samant, Minister of Industries; Shambhuraj Desai, Minister of Tourism; and Prasad Lad, Member of the Legislative Council. During the discussions, Vikhe Patil arranged a direct phone call between Jarange Patil and officials of the Justice Shinde Committee.

Prasad Lad assured that pending certificate distribution would be completed without delay. Minister Desai clarified that certificates had already been issued to several individuals and confirmed that no existing records would be omitted. Vikhe Patil committed to rectifying administrative errors immediately and warned that officials deliberately delaying certificate issuance would face suspension or changes in service rules.

Allegations Against Senior Leaders

Jarange Patil also levelled serious allegations against Ministers Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Sanjay Shirsat, accusing them of creating hurdles and issuing orders that revoked certificates — even after the Shinde Committee had identified the 58 lakh Kunbi records and the Hyderabad Gazette provisions had been implemented. He expressed frustration that OBC certificates were issued smoothly while Maratha certificates faced repeated delays, and warned that if the government had no intention of providing them, it should say so clearly.

Implementation Gap Acknowledged

Vikhe Patil admitted that despite orders being issued on Maratha reservation, implementation had not been effective on the ground. He said some officials were 'deliberately trying to malign the government's image' and that any deliberate delay would be investigated. He noted that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had taken serious note of officials acting as obstacles and had promised strict preventive measures.

Delays in certificate issuance have had direct consequences — students from the Maratha community are being denied access to reservation concessions, affecting families across the state. This comes amid heightened tension ahead of the 29 August hunger strike, with Jarange Patil having already warned that if no concrete solution emerges, the protest would shift to Mumbai. All eyes are now on whether the government can demonstrate visible action before the deadline.