Mumbai, September 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said the state government had accepted 12 of the 14 core demands raised by Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil, while the remaining two matters were sub judice.
Fadnavis’s remarks came as Jarange Patil began his journey from Antarwali Sarati towards Mumbai’s Azad Maidan to hold a hunger strike over Maratha reservation demands. The proposed agitation has raised concerns among the state government and police over law and order, particularly ahead of the Ganeshotsav festival.
Fadnavis said the police had rejected Jarange Patil’s initial application to hold the agitation in Mumbai. He added that if a fresh application was submitted, the police would examine it.
“The police rejected the application; if a fresh request is submitted, they will evaluate it,” Fadnavis said.
The Chief Minister stressed that Mumbai and Pune witness large-scale celebrations during Ganeshotsav and said the government wanted the festival to proceed without disruption. He acknowledged that protests were part of democratic activity and said Jarange Patil had staged agitations in the past.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also appealed for restraint, saying the government had a responsibility to ensure that devotees faced no disruption during the festival.
Shinde referred to the 58 Maratha rallies held in the past, saying they had been conducted peacefully without inconveniencing the public. He urged protesters to maintain similar discipline during the present agitation.
While saying that criticism of the government was acceptable in a democracy, Shinde appealed against politicising the reservation issue. He said the government had maintained an open and positive approach towards Maratha reservation and expected a similarly constructive approach from those raising the demands.
Meanwhile, Jarange Patil proceeded towards Mumbai after offering prayers at a temple in Antarwali Sarati. Addressing supporters, he accused political leaders of misleading the Maratha community and appealed to protesters to remain united and peaceful.
Jarange Patil also maintained that he would not back down in the face of government pressure. His supporters said the absence of official permission would not stop their march towards Mumbai.
They said that while Jarange Patil would undertake the hunger strike, supporters could visit local Ganpati pandals during the agitation.
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