Manoj Jarange Patil's 11th fast unto death: Maratha quota demands in full
Synopsis
Manoj Jarange Patil's 11th fast unto death is not just another hunger strike — it is a pressure test for the Mahayuti government. With the state claiming 14.24 lakh certificates already issued and Jarange Patil insisting on coverage for all 58 lakh historical entries, the two sides are not just negotiating numbers; they are fighting over who defines eligibility for Maratha reservation.
Key Takeaways
Manoj Jarange Patil launched his 11th fast unto death at Antarwali Sarati, Jalna on 29 August .
He demands Kunbi caste certificates for all 58 lakh individuals in historical records identified by the Shinde Committee .
The Maharashtra government says 14,24,634 certificates have already been issued out of 14,31,634 applications, with only 1,747 pending.
Jarange Patil has also demanded abolition of Caste Verification Committees , withdrawal of police cases, and jobs for families of those who died in the movement.
Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil travelled to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to facilitate talks, but Jarange Patil rejected all government claims and proceeded with the strike.
A solidarity rally of 1,000 autorickshaws from Dharashiv district was organised to converge on the protest site.
Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil launched his 11th fast unto death at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district on 29 August, pressing the Mahayuti government led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to fulfil a set of long-pending demands on Maratha reservation. Jarange Patil declared the community's three-year struggle to be on the 'verge of victory' and urged Marathas across Maharashtra to converge at the protest site.
Key Demands on the Table
Jarange Patil's demands centre on the immediate issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to all individuals covered under the 58 lakh historical records identified by the Shinde Committee. He has also called for caste validity certificates to accompany Kunbi certificates, clarification on the operational framework for issuing validity under the Hyderabad Gazetteer, and the abolition of the state's Caste Verification Committees — questioning why such panels exist in Maharashtra when they are reportedly absent in other states.
Additionally, he has demanded immediate implementation of Government Orders (GRs) related to Satara and Kolhapur princely state records to extend OBC benefits to the Maratha community, unconditional withdrawal of all police cases registered against Maratha protesters, and government jobs and financial support for families of individuals who lost their lives during the reservation movement.
What the Government Says
Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil travelled to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar ahead of the strike, anticipating the need for dialogue. He held a meeting with local officials and claimed that only 0.3 per cent of entries have been rejected, asserting that certificates are being granted to all eligible applicants.
The government presented official figures showing that out of 14,31,634 applications received up to 24 August, a total of 14,24,634 individuals have already been issued Kunbi certificates. According to the state, only 1,747 applications remain pending and 5,248 have been rejected. Minister Vikhe Patil urged eligible applicants to submit documents to their respective District Collectors within the next eight days, promising swift action.
On specific disputed certificates, Vikhe Patil said he has requested the Caste Verification Committee to reconsider those cases, while noting that some matters are currently sub-judice before the High Court.
Jarange Patil's Counter-Position
Rejecting all government claims, Jarange Patil proceeded with the hunger strike. He maintained that every individual among the 58 lakh recorded entries must receive a certificate — a position that officials say does not align with actual application volumes. In his address to supporters, he said: 'We have no party, no leader; our caste is our only identity. Marathas must stop relying on the government.'
Calling the current phase the final fight for future generations, he warned that complacency at this stage could amount to betrayal of the community. He also urged affluent and influential Maratha leaders to step forward and support the poorer sections of the community during this critical phase.
Solidarity Rallies and Ground Situation
In a show of solidarity, a Maratha community meeting in Dharashiv district decided to organise a rally of 1,000 autorickshaws heading toward Antarwali Sarati on Saturday. Thousands of activists from across the district were expected to join. Authorities have flagged the likelihood of significant traffic congestion in and around the Antarwali Sarati area in Jalna district as the rally converges on the protest site.
With the Mahayuti government yet to respond to the full charter of demands, and Jarange Patil signalling no intention of backing down, the standoff is set to intensify in the days ahead.
Point of View
But they sidestep Jarange Patil's core argument: that the universe of eligible beneficiaries is 58 lakh, not 14 lakh applicants. That definitional gap is the real fault line, and neither side has moved to bridge it. The Mahayuti government's repeated ministerial visits without a binding resolution suggest a strategy of attrition rather than settlement — a risky play given Maharashtra's electoral arithmetic, where the Maratha vote remains decisive. This is Jarange Patil's 11th fast, which means the agitation has survived every previous attempt at managed de-escalation. The question is no longer whether the movement has endurance; it is whether the government has a credible counter-offer.
NationPress
29 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Manoj Jarange Patil on a fast unto death again?
Manoj Jarange Patil began his 11th fast unto death on 29 August at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna to demand Kunbi caste certificates for all 58 lakh Marathas covered under historical records identified by the Shinde Committee. He has rejected the government's claim that most eligible applicants have already been issued certificates, insisting the eligible pool is far larger than current application numbers suggest.
What are Manoj Jarange Patil's specific demands?
His demands include issuance of Kunbi certificates to all individuals in the 58 lakh Shinde Committee records, caste validity certificates alongside Kunbi certificates, clarification on the Hyderabad Gazetteer framework, abolition of Caste Verification Committees, implementation of GRs for Satara and Kolhapur records to grant OBC benefits, withdrawal of police cases against Maratha protesters, and government jobs for families of those who died in the movement.
What is the Maharashtra government's position on the Maratha reservation demands?
The government says 14,24,634 Kunbi certificates have already been issued out of 14,31,634 applications received up to 24 August, with only 1,747 applications pending and 5,248 rejected. Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil has claimed that only 0.3 per cent of entries have been rejected and that certificates are being granted to all eligible applicants.
What is the Kunbi certificate and why does it matter for Maratha reservation?
A Kunbi certificate establishes that a person belongs to the Kunbi sub-caste, which is classified as Other Backward Class (OBC) in Maharashtra. Marathas who can prove Kunbi lineage through historical records become eligible for OBC reservations in government jobs and education. The dispute centres on how broadly this eligibility should be defined, with Jarange Patil arguing that all 58 lakh entries in Shinde Committee records qualify.
Who is leading the government's response to the hunger strike?
Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil is the state government's primary interlocutor. He travelled to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on the day of the strike, held meetings with local officials, and presented the government's certificate issuance data. The agitation is directed at the Mahayuti government led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
