Maratha Reservation Row: Manoj Jarange-Patil To Reach Mumbai On Thursday, Changes March Route

Mumbai, September 16, 2026: Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil will arrive in Mumbai on Thursday, three days prior to his intended visit to Azad Maidan, where he plans to continue his hunger strike advocating for reservation for Marathas under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. Health concerns prompted Patil to initiate his protest march from Jalna on September 15.

However, on the second day of the march, his health worsened, resulting in saline administration. Subsequent medical examination revealed significantly low blood pressure and sugar levels, leading doctors to recommend hospital admission for further treatment. Consequently, Patil's future actions remain uncertain - he may continue his stay in Beed, proceed with the Mumbai protest as planned, or abandon his journey altogether.

During a Wednesday evening media conference, Patil announced a shift in his protest plans, stating he will travel directly from Beed to Mumbai instead of the previously scheduled detours to Pune and Raigad. "I will 100 per cent go to Mumbai and reach by Thursday," Patil declared during his interaction with the media.

One of Patil's primary demands is the issuance of Kunbi (OBC) certificates to all Maratha community members based on historical government records and gazetteers. On his 19th day of fasting, Patil threatened: "Should anyone try to halt the protest, thousands of Maratha community members will take to the streets." This marks Patil's twelfth protest and second in Mumbai, following a 2025 five-day Azad Maidan demonstration.

Patil cautioned that if police forcibly obstruct the march or conduct a lathi charge, the government could face significant repercussions. He vowed, "Even if I perish, I will not relent. If Maratha community members endure a lathi charge, the government could fall." Patil directed supporters to await further instructions on the specific date and time of the Mumbai protest. He emphasized the importance of maintaining discipline during the march and refraining from traffic disruptions or inconveniencing citizens.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had previously acknowledged 12 of the 13 demands, accepting one pending demand as "sub judice." Fadnavis urged Patil to reconsider staging protests in Mumbai, citing potential inconvenience to devotees and citizens during Mumbai and Pune's Ganpati festivities.