Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil on Thursday, 27 August announced he will launch an indefinite hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna from 29 August, sharply escalating pressure on the Maharashtra government with a warning that 45 lakh vehicles could descend on Mumbai if authorities attempt to obstruct the Maratha community.

The Warning to Maharashtra Government

Speaking to reporters at Antarwali Sarati, Jarange Patil issued a direct challenge to the state administration. “On my single call, nearly 40 to 45 lakh vehicles will head toward Mumbai from across the state,” he said. He added that the protest would unfold in five distinct phases, culminating in six crore members of the Maratha community converging on Mumbai. “If the government dares to stop us out of malice, we will show them what we can do,” he warned.

Direct Criticism of Chief Minister Fadnavis

Jarange Patil trained his sharpest words on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, accusing him of deploying Marathas against Marathas. He declared that while the fast would begin peacefully at Antarwali Sarati, he would not hesitate to march to the Chief Minister’s official residence, Varsha, in Mumbai. “Is Varsha anyone’s private property? It belongs to all of us. I won’t cause inconvenience inside his room, but I will certainly pitch camp on the bungalow premises,” he said.

Kunbi Records and Transparency Demand

Earlier this week, Jarange Patil held discussions with a delegation of Maharashtra government ministers, during which Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil arranged a direct phone call with officials of the Justice Shinde Committee. Jarange Patil pressed for full transparency on documented Kunbi lineage records, stating that over the past three years, a total of 58 lakh Kunbi records have been uncovered — including 2 lakh newly discovered entries. He demanded that the complete list be immediately displayed at all Talathi and Gram Sevak offices across every village in the state.

Political Targets and Broader Context

Jarange Patil also took aim at Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar, saying he was unconcerned with who held or lacked caste certificates within political parties. He argued that leaders across the political spectrum harboured bias against the Maratha community, a stance he said had “opened the eyes” of Marathas affiliated with all parties and exposed the opposition’s intentions. This comes amid a prolonged standoff between Jarange Patil’s movement and the state government, with previous hunger strikes having drawn massive public mobilisation across Maharashtra.

What Happens Next

The indefinite fast is set to begin at Antarwali Sarati on 29 August. The Maharashtra government faces mounting pressure to resolve the Maratha reservation demand before the agitation widens. Jarange Patil has urged ministers to bring relevant officials to future discussions and demanded that procedures for granting Kunbi certificates be explained to the community in simple, accessible terms. How the state responds in the coming days will determine whether the protest escalates to a large-scale march on Mumbai.