Maratha reservation movement leader Manoj Jarange Patil will hold a massive protest in Mumbai today. Jarange is leading a march that will start from Jalna and go to Mumbai’s Azad Maidan. According to information, Manoj Jarange is preparing to start a hunger strike demanding reservation for the Maratha community in the OBC category.

Jarange issues hunger strike warning

A large number of supporters and youth from different areas of the state are moving towards Mumbai to join this movement. Meanwhile, Jarange has entered Mumbai. This march by Jarange started from Pune’s Shivneri Fort, where participants applied soil from the fort on their foreheads and took a vow to continue the struggle.

Jarange Patil says that his struggle will continue until the Maratha community gets reservation in the OBC category. With this demand, he has reached Mumbai and has also issued a hunger strike warning. Mumbai Police and administration are also on alert mode.

Police implement diversions to control the crowd

Security has been tightened in South Mumbai’s Azad Maidan and surrounding areas. Barricading and traffic diversions have been implemented to control the crowd. The court has imposed restrictions on this protest, allowing only 5,000 people for one day. However, Jarange Patil has opposed this condition.

‘Government will hold talks with protesters’

Reacting to the Maratha movement, the Chief Minister said that his government has already given 10 percent reservation to the Maratha community, which has also been approved by the court. He objected to the demand to include the Maratha community in the OBC category and said that approximately 350 castes already fall under this category. However, the Chief Minister assured that protesters have the right to express their views through democratic means and the government is ready to engage in respectful dialogue with them.

Azad Maidan

Azad Maidan is a historic public ground in South Mumbai, India, originally established in the 18th century. Its name, meaning “Free Maidan,” originates from its use as a key site for political rallies and speeches during the Indian independence movement. Today, it remains a popular venue for public gatherings, protests, and sporting events.

Shivneri Fort

Shivneri Fort is a 17th-century hill fortress located in Maharashtra, India, renowned as the birthplace of the great Maratha warrior king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It was built during the reign of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate and features impressive gateways, water cisterns, and a temple dedicated to the goddess Shivai, after whom it is named. The fort’s strategic location and robust construction made it a significant military stronghold in the Deccan region.