Maratha quota: Maharastra Govt hints at willingness to discuss ‘legally valid’ demands
Activist Manoj Jarange set a September 12 deadline for the government to accept his demands and warned of demonstrations by members of the Maratha community in Mumbai
On August 30, 2026, the Maharashtra government suggested it was open to discussing constitutionally and legally valid demands from the Maratha community, amid competing aspirations of Marathas and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Noted fast activist Manoj Jarange persisted with a hunger strike in Jalna district, demanding Kunbi caste certificate recognition.
He set a September 12 deadline for the government's acceptance and threatened demonstrations in Mumbai. Jarange, who opposed a rally by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Parbhani city, questioned the event's necessity. Police detained some individuals during the protest. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responded cautiously, saying the government is willing to discuss constitutionally and legally valid demands, not those violating Supreme Court orders.
Fadnavis attended a rally of farmers in Nagpur, saying the government is attending the Parbhani event to address protesters' demands. Jarange claimed his team found 58 lakh records of Kunbi genealogical links, which the government seeks to reduce. His main demand is Kunbi recognition for Marathas, similar to OBC benefits in education and jobs.
Other demands include reservation based on the Satara Gazette, withdrawal of police cases against quota protesters, and compensation for families of those who died in previous agitations.
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