Maratha quota stir: Jarange Patil leaves for Mumbai as police refuse to give nod to protest

Manoj Jarange. File photo: Background via PTI.

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil left for Mumbai with a handful of supporters on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) to secure reservation for Marathas in the OBC category as permission to protest was denied.

Mr. Jarange-Patil left the protest site, Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, around 11:00 am to reach Mumbai on September 19 and continue his indefinite hunger strike from Mumbai Azad Maidan, presumably to mark the 19th day of his protest.

“The Mahayuti government has denied permission to protest in Mumbai. I will die or get booked. I am traveling alone with two ambulances and two cars with a maximum of 10 people,” he told the media in Jalna.

While leaving Antarwali Sarati, Mr Jarange-Patil was seen consoling his family saying “to stay strong” and “in case of his death, the brother should take care of his two daughters and wife”.

Mr. Jarange-Patil will hit Mumbai as the city drowns in celebration of the Ganeshotsav festival, which began on September 14.

His arrival on September 16 will be the third protest held in Mumbai for Marathi reservation in three years. The first protest was conducted in the suburbs of Mumbai in the Vashi region of Navi Mumbai in January 2024; the second protest took place in August 2025 and will be his third. He will return to Mumbai on Wednesday and demand immediate release of Kunbi certificates, claiming that the government is canceling the issued certificates.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asked Mr. Jarange-Patil to reconsider his decision to protest in Mumbai, saying that protesting during Ganeshotsav would cause inconvenience to devotees. The police rejected his request. Mr. Fadnavis said that among the 13 demands, 12 demands were met. “We have explained to him why his 13th demand cannot be met as it is not legal and could harm the Maratha community,” the chief minister said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde pointed out that at least 58 morchas were held last year but they never caused inconvenience to others. However, the people on the other side should think about what they have been doing.

The original plan was to march with thousands of supporters to Mumbai, starting on 13 September. The first stop was Patoda in Beed, the second stop was Shrigonda, Ahilyanagar, and the third stop was Hadapsar, Pune. But now he will travel to Mumbai.

Published – 15 Sep 2026 15:47 IST