Activist Manoj Jarange has declared he will continue his ongoing hunger strike until eligible Maratha community members receive Kunbi community certificates, a demand that ties directly into Maharashtra’s long‑standing Maratha reservation movement.
What Happened
Jarange began his fast on August 30, 2026, at the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly complex in Mumbai, after the state government’s deadline for issuing Kunbi certificates to Maratha applicants expired without action. In a public statement released on August 31, Jarange’s supporters said the activist would not break his fast “until the government ensures that every Maratha who qualifies receives a Kunbi certificate, which is the gateway to accessing the reservation benefits the community has been seeking for years.” The protest has drawn crowds of several hundred demonstrators, with local police establishing a cordon around the protest site to manage traffic and ensure public safety.
The demand centers on the Kunbi certificate, a document historically used to verify eligibility for the “Other Backward Classes” (OBC) reservation quota in education and government employment. Maratha activists argue that the community’s claim to OBC status has been legally recognized in various court rulings, but administrative hurdles have prevented the issuance of the required Kunbi certificates. According to the protest organizers, over 150,000 Maratha applicants have been denied certificates despite meeting the criteria set by the Maharashtra government’s 2018 Maratha reservation ordinance.
Why It Matters
The fast underscores the persistent tension between community identity certification and reservation policy implementation in Maharashtra. The Maratha reservation issue has been a political flashpoint for more than a decade, with the community’s demand for reservation being legally contested in the Supreme Court and politically leveraged by regional parties. The Kunbi certificate is a linchpin: without it, Maratha candidates cannot claim the 10 % reservation quota established by the state in 2018 for “Maratha” as a separate category within the OBC bracket.
The protest also highlights the broader challenge of translating judicial and legislative victories into on‑the‑ground administrative action. While the Bombay High Court upheld the Maratha reservation in 2021, subsequent government orders have been delayed by legal challenges and bureaucratic processes. The situation has sparked renewed debate over the efficacy of reservation policies and the role of caste certificates in determining access to affirmative‑action benefits.
Background and Context
The Maratha reservation movement gained momentum after the 2011 census revealed that Marathas, historically a dominant agrarian community, faced socio‑economic disparities in education and employment. In response, the Maharashtra government passed the Maratha Reservation Act in 2018, granting the community a 10 % quota within the OBC category. The act required that Maratha applicants obtain a Kunbi certificate to qualify, as the state’s reservation framework traditionally uses Kunbi status as proof of OBC eligibility.
Legal battles followed. The Supreme Court suspended the quota in 2019 after a petition argued that the reservation infringed on the rights of other backward classes. The Bombay High Court later reinstated the quota in 2021, citing the state’s authority to address historical injustices. However, implementation stalled because the government failed to issue clear guidelines for certificate verification.
In 2022, the Maharashtra government introduced a “Maratha Kunbi Certificate” scheme, but critics said the process remained opaque and that many eligible applicants were still turned away. A 2023 report by the state’s Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission noted that only 12 % of pending applications had been approved, with the majority rejected due to “documentary discrepancies.”
Jarange, a former schoolteacher turned activist, has been at the forefront of the campaign since 2020. He has previously led protests demanding the release of Maratha prisoners and the establishment of a dedicated commission to monitor reservation implementation. His current fast is the most visible manifestation of the ongoing frustration with administrative inaction.
What to Watch Next
If the government fails to meet Jarange’s demands, the protest could expand beyond Mumbai, with planned rallies in Pune, Nagpur, and Aurangabad. Observers note that the timing coincides with the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections scheduled for November 2026, raising the possibility that political parties will use the issue to court Maratha voters.
Legal analysts anticipate that the case may return to the Supreme Court if the state does not produce a concrete action plan within the next 30 days. A petition filed by the Maratha Kranti Morcha in July 2026 seeks a court‑ordered deadline for certificate issuance and compensation for those denied benefits.
Education officials have indicated that the backlog of certificate applications could be cleared through a streamlined online portal, but implementation will require additional staff and training. The state’s Department of Social Justice has announced a “special drive” starting in September 2026, though details on staffing and verification criteria remain unpublished.
Conclusion
Manoj Jarange’s determination to continue his fast until eligible Marathas receive Kunbi certificates reflects the broader struggle of translating legal rights into practical access. The protest highlights the administrative bottlenecks that have plagued Maharashtra’s reservation system for years and underscores the political stakes as the state heads into elections. Whether the government can deliver a swift solution will determine not only the fate of Jarange’s hunger strike but also the future of Maratha reservation implementation in the state.
Sources
– India Today: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/maratha-reservation-protest-manoj-jarange-fast-kunbi-certificates-maharashtra-ptag-2987287-2026-09-04
Source: India Today – India
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Story synopsis gathered from: India Today – India — source
