Why Did Mumbai Police Extend Permission for Jarange-Patil's Protest?

Mumbai, Aug 30 (NationPress) The Mumbai police have granted an extension of one more day, allowing pro-Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil to continue his protest at Azad Maidan until Sunday, as confirmed by officials on Saturday.

According to police sources, "Permission has been extended to allow the protest to carry on until Sunday. An application was submitted by Manoj Jarange-Patil, and the permission has been officially extended for another day until Sunday." On Friday, the police had initially authorized Jarange-Patil to protest from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. under certain conditions.

Later that evening, following Jarange-Patil's request, the police extended the permission until Saturday.

On Saturday, the police reiterated the extension for Jarange-Patil's protest, which is aimed at securing reservation for the Maratha community.

Jarange-Patil expressed his dissatisfaction on Friday, stating that a one-day permission was inadequate and called it a "joke." He declared an intention to embark on an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan until the Maharashtra government enacts a sustainable reservation policy for the Marathas.

His demands include a call for the reservation of the Maratha community within the OBC quota. However, both Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde have stated that the Maratha community cannot be granted reservations from the OBC quota, although they are committed to finding a feasible solution within constitutional parameters.

Following a meeting with a government delegation that included Justice Sandeep Shinde, Jarange-Patil insisted that the state must officially recognize all Marathas in Marathwada as Kunbis and grant them reservations.

He stated, "Marathas in Marathwada should be classified as Kunbis and awarded reservations. The gazettes from Hyderabad and Satara need to be legislated for this to happen," Jarange-Patil asserted.

He remains resolute in continuing his hunger strike, emphasizing, "The government should engage in discussion; instead, they are unnecessarily delaying the process through the Shinde Committee. We have made it clear that Marathas and Kunbis in Marathwada are essentially the same. Documentation from the Satara and Hyderabad states supports this claim."

Jarange-Patil also called for the withdrawal of cases against protesters arrested during the Maratha reservation agitation and for government jobs and financial support for the families of those who lost their lives during the protests.

He concluded, "We have urged the government to officially acknowledge that Marathas and Kunbis are one. If they issue a government notification to this effect, I will promptly end the agitation. Immediate implementation of the gazetteers from Satara and Hyderabad states is essential, and we will not allow any delays. However, I will allow a two-month timeframe for the gazetteer from Aundh and Bombay government," he declared.

Chief Minister Fadnavis reaffirmed that the state government is actively seeking a constitutional solution regarding the Maratha reservation issue.

He added that the government aims to make decisions that adhere to constitutional guidelines rather than decisions made for short-term appeasement that could lead to future complications.

Fadnavis stated, "The government's stance has remained consistent from the beginning. From 2014 to 2025, all measures benefiting the Maratha community have been implemented by our government. Prior to this, little progress was made, but our administration is now taking decisive actions. These decisions have been reached under my leadership and that of Eknath Shinde. Initially, we granted a reservation, which continued during Shinde's term. Subsequently, the state government significantly strengthened the Annasaheb Patil Economic Development Corporation, successfully creating one and a half lakh entrepreneurs. We are now empowering Maratha youth to become job creators instead of job seekers.