Manoj Jarange ends 20-day hunger strike, gives govt three months

Manoj Jarange, who has repeatedly held hunger strikes and protests demanding reservation for the Maratha community, has ended his 20-day hunger strike. The strike began on August 29. While calling it off, Jarange gave the Maharashtra government three months to consider his demands.

Jarange is demanding that Marathas be given reservation under the OBC quota on the basis of Kunbi lineage. He began the hunger strike on August 29 at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna over this demand. When his demands were not met, he led a march towards Mumbai on September 15. However, his health deteriorated on the way, after which he halted the march at Patoda in Beed on September 16. According to doctors, his blood pressure and blood sugar had dropped significantly, and he was also suffering from dehydration.

Jarange had been planning to hold the protest at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, but Mumbai Police did not allow it, citing concerns over law and order and crowds during Ganeshotsav.

According to police, Jarange had earlier said he would protest alone or with around 50 people, but a large number of supporters were with him on the way to Mumbai. Police had then sought details of the people and vehicles involved in the protest.

Maharashtra minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil had appealed to Jarange to end the protest, saying the government was ready for talks and that the matter could be resolved through discussion.

Manoj Jarange had also held a protest in Mumbai last year. At that time, the government accepted six of his eight demands and began the process related to Kunbi certificates, following which the protest ended on September 2, 2025. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said at the time that the government had acted on 12 of the protesters' 13 legal demands.