won-t-back-down-even-if-shot-dead-jarange-begins-hunger-strike

Activist Manoj Jarange is sitting on an indefinite hunger strike at south Mumbai’s Azad Maidan. Starting the hunger strike from Friday, August 29, the Maratha Quota movement activist vowed not to leave the city till the demands of the community are met, including, 10 per cent quota for the Marathas under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

 

“I will die, but won’t back down this time. We will not leave Mumbai till our demands are met. I will not go back until our demands are met. I will not retreat even if I am shot dead,” he said, as he began his fast at 10 am. Jarange, 43, received a rousing welcome from thousands of supporters, sporting saffron caps, scarves, and flags, after he reached the protest venue around 9.45 am.

 

“We want the government to grant us a reservation and accept all our demands,” said Jarange, who wants all Marathas to be recognised as Kunbis, an agrarian caste included in the OBC category, which will make them eligible for reservation in government jobs and education.

 

Jarange asked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to “show his commitment to Marathas through his actions”, citing, “If the state government agrees to our demands, we will withdraw the agitation. But you have to be sincere or else, the Marathas will show their power to both the state and the centre governments.”

 

Maharashtra government’s lack of cooperation forced the Marathas’ march to Mumbai, said Jarange, adding, “Now that the government has allowed the protest, we must cooperate with the police and ensure that we do nothing that tarnishes the community's image.”  

 

 

The police have allowed the activist to continue his hunger strike for another day, an official said. Initially, Jarange was given permission to occupy the ground only for a day.

 

Accompanied by thousands of vehicles, Jarange, who began his march from his village, Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district on Wednesday, was welcomed at Vashi by supporters as he entered Mumbai early in the morning. The Mumbai police had allowed Jarange to stage a peaceful protest at Azad Maidan on August 29 between 9 am to 6 pm.  

 

Police had stipulated that only five vehicles of protesters could head to Azad Maidan, and the number of protesters there should not cross 5,000. Many more gathered at the venue on Friday.  

 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the cabinet sub-committee on the issue was discussing  Jarange’s demands and will find a solution within the constitutional framework, and added that the state administration was working as per the directives of the Bombay High Court and will have to abide by its orders.

 

"The cabinet sub-committee, which is empowered to discuss issues related to the Maratha community, is discussing Jarange's demands. The committee will find a solution within the legal and constitutional framework. In the last ten years, my government has done a lot for the welfare of the Marathas, something no other government has done. Don't politicise the issue and try to escalate tensions between OBCs and Marathas. Our social fabric is important," the chief minister stated.

 

 

Besides CM, Maharashtra ministers Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the state government is ready to talk with Jarange, stressing that his demands are being viewed sympathetically. However, BJP member of the legislative council Parinay Fuke cautioned against yielding to what he called unconstitutional demands, saying it would trigger bigger protests by the OBC groups.

 

Vikhe Patil, who is the chairperson of the cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation, said Jarange's memorandum of demands would be taken up for discussion. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said it is not the sentiment among Marathas that they should get a part of the quota meant for OBCs. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said the government must immediately hold a dialogue with Jarange and give justice to his community.

 

“The protesters are not terrorists and they have come to Mumbai not for rioting but for justice, Thackeray cited.

 

Maharashtra BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye accused the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi of failing to address the demands of the Maratha community when it was in power. Upadhye targeted NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray and the Congress for ‘inaction’ over the Maratha quota.

 

Many MPs and legislators of Opposition parties also met Jarange at Azad Maidan, expressing their support for his protest.

 

A short spell of heavy rains on Friday morning caused inconvenience to the protesters at Azad Maidan and outside, forcing many of them to look for shelter. Several protesters ran towards CSMT, while others took cover under the BMC headquarters porch, inside the CSMT subway, and at nearby bus stops to avoid getting drenched. However, many Maratha community members braved the showers to stay put at the protest venue.

 

“In view of the heavy crowd gathering in and around the CSMT station, passengers are advised to travel to CSMT only if essential and unavoidable,” a Central Railway official said.

 

Thousands of office-goers faced inconvenience as Maratha protesters headed to Azad Maidan. Traffic slowed down in the city’s southern and eastern parts. Those arriving to take BEST buses or taxis to their workplaces in business areas like Nariman Point and Crawford Market had a tough time due to congestion in and around Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT).

 

 

Jarange asked his supporters to park their vehicles at designated places and not to block Mumbai's roads.

 

“Clear the streets in two hours and ensure Mumbaikars are not troubled. Those who want to leave the city today can do so,” he said.

 

In January this year, Jarange called off his hunger strike on the sixth day, after BJP MLA Suresh Dhas intervened on behalf of the state government. It was his seventh such protest since 2023. Jarange had then announced that if the promised measures were not implemented swiftly, he would lead a major agitation in Mumbai. “This time, we will not return empty-handed,” he had declared.