‘Will take to streets if quota is touched’: OBC groups warn as Jarange-Patil heads to Mumbai

Mumbai: Shivba Sangathana founder Manoj Jarange-Patil will take the mission to secure blanket reservation for Marathas under the OBC category to Mumbai , even as Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has asked him to reconsider his decision considering Ganeshotsav , which draws huge crowds to the state’s financial capital.

Jarange-Patil, who has been undertaking a fast-unto-death since August 29, will start from Antarwali Sarati village around 11 am on Tuesday.

Jarange-Patil is expected to reach Mumbai on Wednesday evening or Thursday and continue his fast at Azad Maidan in Mumbai.

However, the Mumbai Police has denied him permission to protest in the city.

"Fearing the strength of the Maratha community, the government has denied permission to go to Mumbai. As a counter to the government's decision, I will leave for Mumbai alone on September 15 at 11 am," Jarange said.

The Maratha community leader asked the community not to converge at the capital immediately, stating that only 10 people and two ambulances would accompany him during the journey.

On the other hand, Fadnavis urged him to reconsider his decision to head to Mumbai.

“I believe that holding a protest during Ganeshotsav, thereby causing inconvenience to Ganesh devotees, is not appropriate. I would appeal to those concerned to reconsider their decision,” Fadnavis said.

Third time in Mumbai

This is the third time in three years that Jarange-Patil is taking the protest to Mumbai in the form of a mass agitation.

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From January 20–27, 2024, he took the protest to the outskirts of Mumbai. Jarange-Patil began a march from Antarwali Sarati on January 20 and reached Navi Mumbai on January 25. He commenced another fast-unto-death agitation on January 26 over the “Sage-Soyre” issue and Kunbi reservation. However, the government agreed to the demand and he returned.

From August 29–September 2, 2025, Jarange-Patil undertook a fast-unto-death agitation at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, demanding inclusion of Marathas in the OBC quota and issuance of Kunbi certificates. However, he returned following assurances from the Maharashtra government and displeasure from the Bombay High Court.

OBC groups warn of street protests if quota is touched

Amid the escalation of protests by Manoj Jarange-Patil, who has been demanding reservation for Marathas as Kunbis under the Other Backward Classes, various OBC groups have declared that they would take to the streets if the existing reservation for the community is touched.

“The government should do whatever is possible under the Constitution and the current reservation framework,” said Rashtriya OBC Mahasangh President Babanrao Taywade.

“We will not yield to what he described as pressure tactics from Jarange-Patil; we demand that Marathas should not be accommodated within the OBC quota and fresh Kunbi certificates should not be issued,” he added.

Jarange-Patil's demand is the implementation of reservation for the Marathas as Kunbis, a sub-caste of predominantly agriculturists, which is covered under the OBC category.