Will sacrifice life, but won’t leave Mumbai till our demands are met, says Jarange Patil

Thousands from across the state marched in Mumbai, holding saffron flags, wearing saffron scarves and chanting “Ek Maratha, Lakh Maratha” on Friday, disrupting traffic and forcing the Mumbai Police to block several roads.

While the state government opened the door for dialogue, it warned Jarange Patil to not cross the “Laxman Rekha”.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “While the state government is committed to the socio-economic upliftment of Marathas, it cannot buckle in to political pressure on unreasonable demands that would lead to doing injustice to the OBCs.”

As Opposition parties Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP (SP) came out in support of Jarange Patil and his protest, they blamed the government for the unrest, adding to the pressure on the Mahayuti administration led by Fadnavis.

Fadnavis criticised his political rivals and said, “By now everybody knows who is firing from Manoj Jarange Patil’s shoulder. Such political plots will not work. Nor will they benefit electorally.”

Without naming parties, he said, “The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Uddhav Thackeray should show us at least one decision taken for Maratha interest during its two-and-a-half year tenure.”

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde clarified the Mahayuti government’s stance on the reservation, stating that any reservation for the Maratha community will be implemented strictly within the legal framework and will not come at the expense of existing quotas for Other Backward Classes (OBC).

“We cannot snatch the rights of one community to give them to another. This is neither the stand of the government nor that of the Marathas,” he said.

Former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, however, criticised the ruling Mahayuti government, saying that the Marathas had been “used and deceived” and that if past promises of reservation by Eknath Shinde, when he was the CM, and Fadnavis had been fulfilled, protesters wouldn’t have had to come to Mumbai.

“They are not terrorists. They have come to Mumbai for their legitimate rights… Mumbai is the capital of the Marathi people. If not Mumbai, then where will they go,” said Thackeray, adding Jarange was forced to protest in the city to demand justice.

“Despite repeated assurances, Jarange Patil has not received justice. Only back-and-forth politics is happening. The government must act,” Thackeray said, adding said that he has no role in granting reservation, and that protesters are seeking justice, not creating disturbances.

Groups of protesting Maratha activists blocked several roads in Mumbai, disrupting traffic during peak hours, despite Jarange Patil’s repeated appeals to supporters to maintain peace and not inconvenience Mumbaikars.

The CSMT station was brimming with protesters, raising pro-quota slogans. The Rapid Task Force (RPF) was roped in to control the situation and avert anykind of law of order situation and ensure the smooth train services during peak hours.

Amid the chaos, in order to end the hunger strike, the government delegation led by minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and others are expected to meet Jarange Patil at Azad Maidan to hold a dialogue.

The protest comes amid fresh rules notified by the police on August 26 under the Public Meetings, Agitations and Processions Rules, 2025, which prohibits protests after 6 pm and cap participation at 5,000 people. The notification issued as per court orders also states that the permission can be taken only for one day and for every day, fresh permission needs to be taken.

Accordingly, the Maratha activists sought the permission for Saturday too, which the Mumbai police approved with several terms and conditions. However, according to the Mumbai police, nearly 40,000 people took part in the rally, far exceeding the permitted limit and in violation of the notification.

Jarange Patil, however, insisted that the authorities should grant permission for the agitation to continue until the demands are fulfilled. The activist declared that he was prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for the Maratha cause. “I will die, but won’t back off this time. We will not leave Mumbai until our demands are met,” he asserted.

Addressing thousands of supporters, Jarange Patil repeatedly appealed for restraint and discipline during the protest. “Cooperate with the police. Do not trouble Mumbaikars. Don’t do anything that would bring disrepute to the community. Do not pelt stones or set anything on fire. Remain peaceful,” he urged.

“I should not be hearing any news of misbehaviour from you. I don’t want to hear that Mumbaikars have been troubled or are unhappy with us,” he added.

He further instructed community members to stay in Vashi at night and gather at Azad Maidan only in the morning, while also encouraging those who had travelled from distant villages to return after the day’s protest. “Now that I have begun my fast, you do not need to worry. Those who wish to return to their villages may do so in the evening — you don’t have to remain here. I am here now, and I will not back out until the Marathas get reservations,” he said.

“Even if the government shoots me down or puts me in jail, I will not withdraw until our demands are met… I won’t get ‘managed’ till the last breath of my life,” Jarange Patil said.

Making a direct appeal to Fadnavis, Jarange Patil said, “Fadnavis saheb, this is your opportunity to win the hearts of the Marathas… We have only one demand and that is reservation.”

The Maratha community, which comprises over 30 per cent of Maharashtra’s population, has been demanding reservation in education and government jobs for several years. In 2018, the state government granted them a 16 per cent quota under the Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) category, but the Supreme Court struck it down later, ruling that it breached the 50 per cent reservation cap.

Since then, fresh agitations have erupted across the state, with Jarange Patil emerging as a prominent face of the movement. His hunger strikes in 2023 drew widespread participation and put pressure on the government to find a legal route to implement the Maratha quota.