📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Jamsayyad
Politics
Manoj Jarange Restarts Hunger Strike Over Maharashtra Maratha Quota Issue
✍️ Moneycontrol.com
🗓 29 Aug 2026, 11:18 AM
👁 4
Activist Manoj Jarange resumed his hunger strike today, reigniting debate over the contested Maratha reservation policy in Maharashtra.
Manoj Jarange, a prominent activist campaigning for the Maratha community, began a new hunger strike on Tuesday, signalling renewed pressure on the state government to address the stalled reservation bill. Jarange, who had previously halted his fast after negotiations, said the recent delays in legislative approval left the community without the promised 16% quota in education and government jobs.
The hunger strike, staged outside the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, aims to draw public attention and compel officials to expedite the bill's passage. Jarange’s supporters gathered at the venue, holding placards that demand swift implementation of the quota and warning of possible unrest if the issue remains unresolved.
State officials have so far declined to comment on the protest, but sources indicate that the government is reviewing the legal challenges that have delayed the quota’s enactment. The Maratha quota row has been a flashpoint in Maharashtra politics for months, with courts questioning the constitutional validity of the reservation.
Jarange warned that he would continue the fast until the quota is formally enacted, emphasizing that the community’s aspirations cannot be postponed indefinitely. His renewed strike adds fresh urgency to a debate that has already seen multiple protests and legal battles.
Analysts note that the hunger strike could influence upcoming political calculations, especially as the state approaches local elections. The outcome may affect both the ruling party’s standing and the broader discourse on caste-based reservations in India.
The hunger strike, staged outside the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, aims to draw public attention and compel officials to expedite the bill's passage. Jarange’s supporters gathered at the venue, holding placards that demand swift implementation of the quota and warning of possible unrest if the issue remains unresolved.
State officials have so far declined to comment on the protest, but sources indicate that the government is reviewing the legal challenges that have delayed the quota’s enactment. The Maratha quota row has been a flashpoint in Maharashtra politics for months, with courts questioning the constitutional validity of the reservation.
Jarange warned that he would continue the fast until the quota is formally enacted, emphasizing that the community’s aspirations cannot be postponed indefinitely. His renewed strike adds fresh urgency to a debate that has already seen multiple protests and legal battles.
Analysts note that the hunger strike could influence upcoming political calculations, especially as the state approaches local elections. The outcome may affect both the ruling party’s standing and the broader discourse on caste-based reservations in India.