Manoj Jarange Patil on Day 17: 'This may be my last meeting' as solo Mumbai march begins
Synopsis
On Day 17 of his hunger strike, Manoj Jarange Patil has pulled out his IV drips, warned that his solo march to Mumbai may be his 'final goodbye,' and accused CM Devendra Fadnavis of orchestrating a conspiracy to crush the Maratha reservation movement — a calculated escalation designed to force a state government response or trigger a mass march.
Key Takeaways
Manoj Jarange Patil is on the 17th day of his hunger strike as of 14 September , having withdrawn all IV fluids and medical treatment.
He is heading to Mumbai in five planned stages , accompanied by only four or five associates , without formal police permission.
He warned that his upcoming journey could be his 'final meeting' with Maharashtra, citing rapidly deteriorating health.
He directly accused Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of using infiltrators and police force to suppress the Maratha agitation.
He instructed supporters to conserve funds and transport for a final mass march, and warned that blocking him would trigger crores of Marathas marching to Mumbai without permission.
He called on the Maratha community to vote based solely on which party or leader delivers reservation, not political loyalty.
Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil on Monday, 14 September delivered an intensely emotional address to the Maratha community from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, warning that his planned solo march to Mumbai could be his final public appearance. Now on the 17th day of his hunger strike, Jarange Patil has discontinued all IV fluids and medical treatment, saying his health is deteriorating rapidly and irreversibly.
A Farewell Warning from the Fast Site
Speaking at a press conference, Jarange Patil described worsening physical symptoms since withdrawing saline support. 'Since stopping the saline and water yesterday morning, my body is undergoing drastic changes. Burning sensations have restarted in my stomach and legs, and extreme fatigue has set in. I was surviving on saline, but without it, I am completely exhausted,' he said.
He explicitly asked the community not to mistake his march for a ceremonial procession. 'I am unable to stand up, so please do not organise welcome ceremonies along the route. If I have the energy, I will speak. This could likely be our final meeting,' he stated. He urged supporters to 'come to the roads to bless me, but do not march to Mumbai just yet.'
The Solo March Strategy and Its Political Logic
Jarange Patil announced he will travel to Mumbai in five planned stages, accompanied by only four or five associates, and without formal police permission. He framed this as a deliberate test of the authorities. 'They denied permission for Azad Maidan expecting a massive crowd. Now that I am going alone, on what grounds will they stop me? If they stop me now, crores of Marathas will march into Mumbai without permission,' he warned.
He laid down strict instructions for supporters along the route: no garlands or shawls, to reduce infection risk and blood pressure spikes; simple roadside rest points instead of elaborate stages; and a clear directive to conserve funds and transport capacity for a final, large-scale march on Mumbai.
Direct Attack on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
Jarange Patil levelled pointed allegations at Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, accusing the state government of a calculated strategy to crush the Maratha agitation. 'Their strategy has been to use the cover of deities to defame the Maratha movement, instigate riots through infiltrators, and then use police force to crush the protest,' he alleged.
He called on the community to respond politically. 'Vote for whoever gives us reservation — your personal preference for a party or leader is useless if they do not secure your children's future,' he said, directly addressing the electoral stakes of the reservation demand.
A Community Called to Hold Its Ground
Jarange Patil's address struck an uncompromising tone, framing the fight in terms of legacy and dignity. 'Wherever my body falls, it falls. But Marathas must fight with such pride that future generations hold their heads high. I want to die giving rights to my community,' he declared.
He noted that the 5.5 crore working-class Marathas represent a force capable of blocking Mumbai at any moment, contrasting them with the political and wealthy elite he described as a small fraction of the population. This comes amid an extended standoff with the Maharashtra government, which had briefly persuaded him to accept medical aid before his demands went unmet and he again rejected treatment.
With Jarange Patil's health in critical condition and no resolution from the government in sight, the coming days of his multi-stage march to Mumbai are set to intensify pressure on the state administration significantly.
Point of View
He forces the Maharashtra government into an impossible position: stop him and trigger a mass mobilisation, or let him reach Azad Maidan and face an even larger crowd. The Fadnavis administration's silence on concrete reservation commitments has allowed the agitation to re-escalate after a brief lull, suggesting the government underestimated the community's resolve. With state elections in the recent memory and a politically potent community of 5.5 crore working-class Marathas in play, the cost of continued inaction is rising faster than the cost of a negotiated settlement.
NationPress
14 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Manoj Jarange Patil's current condition?
Jarange Patil is on the 17th day of his hunger strike as of 14 September and has discontinued all IV fluids and medical treatment for the second time, reporting burning sensations in his stomach and legs and extreme fatigue. He has warned that his physical condition is deteriorating rapidly.
Why is Jarange Patil marching to Mumbai alone?
He is travelling to Mumbai in five planned stages with only four or five associates as a deliberate political test of the authorities, who had denied permission for a mass rally at Azad Maidan. He warned that if he is stopped while travelling alone, crores of Marathas will march to Mumbai without permission.
What are Jarange Patil's demands from the Maharashtra government?
Jarange Patil is agitating for Maratha reservation rights and has rejected all medical treatment citing a lack of positive response and unfulfilled demands from the Maharashtra government. He has called on the community to vote only for leaders who secure reservation for the Maratha community.
What allegations has Jarange Patil made against CM Devendra Fadnavis?
Jarange Patil alleged that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has been pursuing a strategy of using the cover of deities to defame the Maratha movement, instigating riots through infiltrators, and then deploying police force to crush the protest. He urged the community to counter the government's moves step by step.
What instructions did Jarange Patil give to his supporters for the march?
He asked supporters not to offer garlands or shawls to reduce infection risk, to set up simple roadside rest points instead of elaborate stages, and to conserve funds and hired buses for the final mass march to Mumbai rather than spending on travel to meet him along the route.
