Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange on Thursday ended his 20-day hunger strike following discussions with a delegation of Maharashtra government ministers and officials in Beed district.
Jarange, however, made it clear that ending the fast does not mean the agitation is over. He warned that he would move the protest to Mumbai if the government fails to make sufficient progress on his demands within the next three months.
The development came after a government delegation met Jarange at Patoda in Beed. The delegation included ministers Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Dada Bhuse, MLC Prasad Lad, MLA Suresh Dhas and senior government officials.
Jarange had started his journey from Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district and was heading towards Mumbai when he stopped at Patoda for talks with the government representatives.
Government Assures Action On Maratha Quota Demands
During the meeting, the government delegation explained the steps being taken on issues raised by the Maratha community, particularly demands concerning historical records that could help Marathas establish Kunbi lineage.
Jarange has been seeking official recognition of records linked to the Hyderabad, Satara and Aundh gazettes. His demand is connected to the process through which eligible Marathas could establish Kunbi ancestry and seek benefits available under the Other Backward Classes category.
Vikhe Patil also proposed that Jarange appoint three representatives who could regularly monitor the progress of the government’s work.
The minister said the government would need around three to four months to take action on the Kolhapur and Satara gazettes after receiving a written opinion from the advocate general.
Jarange Sets Three-Month Deadline
While agreeing to end his hunger strike, Jarange continued to press the government for a written commitment on the issue of Kunbi records.
He has maintained that historical administrative records should be considered so that eligible members of the Maratha community can establish their Kunbi lineage.
Jarange also warned that the community would return to the streets if the government failed to honour the assurances given during the discussions.
He said the protest could be shifted to Mumbai along with families if there was no progress within three months. At the same time, he appealed to the large number of Maratha supporters who had already travelled towards Mumbai to return home for now.
Mumbai Protest Was Planned For September 19
Jarange had been scheduled to reach Mumbai on September 19 after travelling through Ahilyanagar, Pune and Khopoli in Raigad district.
His previous agitation in Mumbai in 2025 drew thousands of supporters and caused major disruption in parts of south Mumbai. That protest ended on September 2, 2025, after the Maharashtra government accepted six of his eight demands and began steps related to Kunbi classification certificates.
The latest decision to withdraw the hunger strike temporarily reduces the immediate possibility of Jarange’s planned march to Mumbai. However, his three-month deadline means the Maratha reservation issue remains a major point of discussion between the activist and the Maharashtra government.
