Manoj Jarange announces indefinite hunger strike in Mumbai from September 19

Manoj Jarange announced an indefinite hunger strike at Mumbai's Azad Maidan from September 19, seeking Maratha quota in jobs and education. He will lead supporters from Jalna towards Mumbai from September 15, amid Ganpati festivities and opposition from OBC groups

Jalna: Activist Manoj Jarange on Saturday announced that he and his supporters would begin an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan in Mumbai from September 19, seeking Maratha quota in jobs and education. The stir comes amid the heavily patronised Ganpati festivities from September 14 to 25.

He will begin his march towards Mumbai on September 15, Jarange said at a press conference in Antarwali Sarati, as his stir here entered its 15th day.

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The protesters marching towards Mumbai will halt at Patoda in Beed on September 15, Srigonda in Ahilyanagar district the next day, Hadapsar in Pune district on September 17 and Khopoli in Raigad district on September 18, before camping at Khoparkhairane in Navi Mumbai and proceeding to the metropolis, he said.

The protesters would cover around 100 kilometres each day before reaching their designated halting points, Jarange said, adding that the indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai would begin at 10 am on September 19.

“We have to continue the agitation peacefully until we return from Mumbai with reservation for our community. No one should resort to stone-pelting or arson. Vehicles should be driven properly and everyone should follow the code of conduct. We want to protest through democratic means and secure our rightful demand,” Jarange said.

He appealed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis not to create hurdles for the protesters.

“Fadnavis should not stop the Maratha community and I believe he will not do that. If police try to stop us with barricades, agitators should stop there and sit on the roads but should not touch the barricades. They should find an alternative route and reach the agitation site,” Jarange said.

If protesters are stopped, the responsibility for such actions will be on Fadnavis, Jarange added.

Accusing the state government of not implementing gazette-related demands and failing to issue caste certificates based on 58 lakh Kunbi records, he said, “We will take this issue to Mumbai. This is the final fight and not a single Maratha should remain at home.”

Women who wish to participate in the agitation should join after the Mahalaxmi festival by making peaceful visits to the residences of Amruta Fadnavis, wife of CM Fadnavis, and Lata Shinde, wife of Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, and hold traditional ‘haldi-kumkum’ programmes to convey their demand for reservation, Jarange said.

Jarange’s hunger strike in Mumbai in August-September last year brought parts of the city, including areas around the sprawling Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), to a standstill.

On Friday, the Bombay High Court refused to pass any urgent order on a petition seeking to stop his fresh protest in the state capital. The court said every person has the right to protest and that no restraining order can be issued merely on the apprehension of law and order trouble.

Among Jarange’s main demands is that a Government Resolution (GR) be issued allowing Marathas to claim reservation available to the Kunbi community in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) segment on the basis of old records and gazette documents.

This, however, is vehemently opposed by OBC groups, who believe their share of benefits will be affected.