Jalna, August 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil on Saturday began a fresh fast unto death at Antarwali Sarati in Maharashtra’s Jalna district, calling it the final phase of the community’s three-year struggle and urging Marathas across the state to unite until their demands are met.
The hunger strike is Jarange Patil’s 11th and centres on his demand for Kunbi certificates for Marathas based on 58 lakh historical records identified by the Shinde Committee, along with caste validity certificates and implementation of related government resolutions.
He has also demanded clarification on the procedure for issuing validity certificates under the Hyderabad Gazetteer, abolition of Caste Verification Committees, implementation of government resolutions concerning Satara and Kolhapur princely-state records, unconditional withdrawal of police cases against Maratha protesters and government jobs and assistance for families of those who died during the reservation agitation.
“We have no party, no leader; our caste is our only identity. Marathas must stop relying on the government,” Jarange Patil said, urging community members to leave their homes and join the agitation.
He said the protest would continue until all demands were fulfilled by the Mahayuti government led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He also appealed to affluent and influential members of the community to support economically weaker Marathas.
Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, meanwhile, arrived in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar ahead of the agitation and held discussions with local officials.
Vikhe Patil said the government had acted on eligible applications and claimed that only 0.3 per cent of entries had been rejected. Government data provided to Jarange Patil showed that of 1,431,634 applications received up to August 24, Kunbi certificates had been issued to 1,424,634 applicants. As many as 1,747 applications were pending and 5,248 had been rejected, according to the government.
Vikhe Patil urged those possessing valid records and required documents to submit applications to their respective District Collectors within eight days. He also said the Caste Verification Committee had been asked to reconsider certain cases raised by Jarange Patil, while some other matters were sub judice before the High Court.
Jarange Patil, however, rejected the government’s position and continued to insist that all individuals covered by the 58 lakh records should receive certificates.
Meanwhile, a Maratha community meeting decided to organise a rally of 1,000 autorickshaws from Dharashiv district in support of the agitation. Thousands of activists are expected to travel towards Antarwali Sarati, with authorities anticipating traffic congestion in the area.
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