The commercial capital city of the country, Mumbai, is gearing up for a major protest show, as activist Manoj Jaranghe demands all Marathas be recognized as ‘Kunbis‘ under OBC for job and education reservations.
The security arrangements in Mumbai have been stepped up as the quota activist prepares to launch an indefinite fast at Azad Maidan from August 29, Friday. Over 1,500 police personnel and multiple central forces have been deployed to manage the anticipated large turnout and maintain law and order.
Jarange, 43, left his native in Jalna district on August 26 with thousands of supporters. On Thursday morning, he stopped at Shivneri Fort, the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Pune, before proceeding to Mumbai. The activist is demanding that all Marathas be recognized as Kunbis, an agrarian caste included in the OBC (Other Backward Classes) category, making them eligible for reservation in government jobs and educational institutions.
Key Points to Remember:
a) Authorities are expecting over 20,000 protesters at Azad Maidan, prompting the deployment of local police reinforced by units of the CRPF, RAF, and CISF.
b) In view of an expected traffic congestion on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and Sion-Panvel Highway, Navi Mumbai Police have imposed restrictions on vehicular movement on certain city roads.
c) Railway security has also been strengthened. Railway Force personnel and security forces have been deployed for ensuring seamless flow of movement.
d) The quota activist gained fame during a September 2023 hunger strike at Antarwali Sarathi village, demanding blanket OBC reservation for Marathas with Kunbi certificates.
e) The earlier agitation led to over eight lakh certificates being issued, allowing Marathas and their families to access the OBC quota.
f) Jarange stated a separate quota for Marathas would not hold up in court and instead has argued that providing Kunbi certificates would allow Marathas to access the OBC quota instead.
g) Some central forces originally assigned to Ganesh festival security have been redirected to the protest site.
Who is Manoj Jaranghe?
Jarange Patil hails from Beed district but later settled in Jalna. He has been at the forefront of the Maratha reservation movement for over 15 years. Having initially worked with the Congress, he went on to establish his own organisation, the ‘Shivba Sanghatana‘, to mobilize support for the Maratha quota.
His activism has come at personal cost. Reports note that he sold 2.5 acres of his four-acre agricultural land to sustain his livelihood while continuing to campaign for the community. Known for staging hunger strikes, Jarange Patil has participated in many demonstrations, especially after the Supreme Court struck down the Maratha quota in 2021.
What Is He Protesting Against?
Central to Jarange Patil’s demand is the recognition of Marathas as Kunbis, based on historical records and social overlaps between the two communities. He claims, Marathas are considered socially backward, similar to the Kunbis. Historical records suggest they share the same ancestry, those who fought in wars were called Marathas, while those who worked in farming were known as Kunbis. Since Kunbis are already recognised as OBC, the same recognition should be accorded to Marathas, according to Jarange Patil.
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