Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil on Sunday alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched to shoot him and foment violence during his proposed march to Mumbai, declaring that he was prepared to die for the reservation movement but would not surrender or withdraw the agitation. Jarange made the allegations as preparations gathered pace for his September 15 march towards Mumbai, where he plans to intensify pressure on the Maharashtra government over the long-running demand for reservation benefits for the Maratha community.
Speaking from Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district, the epicentre of his quota agitation, Jarange claimed attempts were being made to eliminate him and create disturbances that could be blamed on protesters. He did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation. The activist maintained that the mobilisation would remain peaceful and democratic and appealed to supporters not to respond to provocations.
‘Will accept death, not surrender’
Jarange said threats to his life would not force him to abandon the campaign and asserted that he would continue fighting until the community's demands were met. He alleged that attempts could be made to provoke violence during the march and urged members of the Maratha community to exercise restraint.
The activist also cautioned authorities against creating unnecessary obstacles along the route. He indicated that if protesters were stopped, they would sit peacefully on the roads rather than engage in confrontation. His remarks have added to tensions surrounding the fresh mobilisation, which is expected to draw a large number of supporters as it moves towards the state capital. Jarange has repeatedly maintained that the movement should remain non-violent, even as his confrontations with the Maharashtra government have become increasingly sharp.
Mumbai march raises security concerns
The planned march is scheduled to begin on September 15, with Jarange seeking to take the reservation agitation once again to Mumbai. The mobilisation comes during the Ganesh festival period, presenting an additional security and traffic-management challenge for authorities in Mumbai and surrounding areas. Police have been preparing extensive security arrangements amid concerns that a large influx of protesters could disrupt traffic and public movement. The previous large-scale Maratha mobilisation in Mumbai had caused severe congestion in parts of the city.
Jarange, however, has insisted that supporters should maintain discipline throughout the journey and that the movement's objective is to press its reservation demands through democratic means.
Antarwali Sarati has remained the nerve centre of his campaign since September 2023, when a police crackdown on protesters there brought the Maratha reservation issue back to the forefront of Maharashtra politics.
Kunbi certificates remain key demand
At the heart of Jarange's campaign is the demand that eligible Marathas be recognised as Kunbis and provided caste certificates enabling them to claim reservation benefits under the Other Backward Classes category.
The issue has produced resistance from sections of existing OBC communities, which fear that large-scale inclusion of Marathas within the OBC framework could reduce their share of reservation benefits.
The Maharashtra government has examined historical and revenue records, including documents from the erstwhile Hyderabad state, to identify Maratha families with Kunbi antecedents.
According to government figures, lakhs of historical records have been examined and more than three lakh Kunbi certificates have been issued, but Jarange maintains that the measures taken so far are insufficient.
The broader Maratha reservation question has remained legally and politically complicated. In 2021, the Supreme Court struck down Maharashtra's earlier reservation for the community after finding that the quota breached the 50 per cent ceiling on reservations.
Maharashtra subsequently enacted separate legislation in 2024 providing a 10 per cent quota for the Maratha community in education and government employment. Jarange, however, has continued to press for access to the OBC quota through Kunbi recognition.
Fresh confrontation with government
The latest mobilisation marks another phase in Jarange's prolonged confrontation with the state government.
His protests, hunger strikes and mass mobilisations have made the reservation question a recurring political challenge in Maharashtra, particularly across the Marathwada region.
With thousands of supporters potentially joining the journey towards Mumbai, the immediate focus is now likely to shift towards security arrangements and negotiations aimed at preventing a confrontation.
Jarange's allegation of a threat to his life has further raised the stakes ahead of the march. While authorities have yet to substantiate his claims of an assassination conspiracy, the activist has made clear that he intends to proceed with the mobilisation.
For the Maharashtra government, the challenge will be to manage a potentially large protest during a major festival while preventing any deterioration in law and order. For Jarange, the march represents another attempt to demonstrate that the Maratha reservation movement retains its capacity for mass mobilisation three years after Antarwali Sarati emerged as its principal centre.