Maratha Quota Activist Manoj Jarange Patil Ends Protest as Shinde Government Responds with Draft Ordinance

Manoj Jarange Patil, leader of the Maratha quota protest, is set to conclude his hunger strike today following the Maharashtra government’s acceptance of all his demands. The 40-year-old activist had been on a hunger strike in Mumbai, demanding reservation for the Maratha community in education and jobs under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

Patil’s demands included the issuance of Kunbi certificates for all Marathas, provision of free education from kindergarten to postgraduate level, and reservation of seats for Marathas in government job recruitments.

#WATCH | Navi Mumbai: Maratha reservation activists celebrate after Manoj Jarange Patil announces to end the protests today as the government has accepted their demands pic.twitter.com/V1KxosEHRm

— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2024

He had issued a stern warning of a massive protest at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan if the government failed to meet their demands. However, following discussions, two Maharashtra ministers met with Patil on Friday night, and the government reportedly agreed to all their demands.

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Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is expected to visit the protest site at 9 am today to meet Manoj Patil. In celebration of the successful outcome, Patil has organized a victory march later in the day in Vashi.

The demand for reservation for the Maratha community has been a significant point of negotiation between community leaders and the state government.