📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Jamsayyad
Politics
Maratha leader Manoj Jarange begins indefinite fast, accuses Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis of bias
✍️ Mid-Day
🗓 30 Aug 2026, 03:03 AM
👁 48
Manoj Jarange, a Maratha activist, has started an indefinite hunger strike, alleging that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis holds a grudge against the community.
Manoj Jarange, a prominent figure in the Maratha community, commenced an indefinite fast on Monday, demanding that the state government address what he describes as discriminatory attitudes toward Marathas. In a brief statement released at the protest site, Jarange accused Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of harboring a personal grudge against the community, which he says has manifested in recent policy decisions.
The fast, which has no predetermined end date, is being held at a public venue in Maharashtra, drawing attention from local media and supporters of the Maratha cause. Jarange has called for a meeting with senior government officials to discuss his grievances, warning that the protest will continue until his demands are met.
State authorities have not commented on the allegations, but the Chief Minister's office issued a generic response, stating that the government remains committed to the welfare of all citizens. Political analysts note that the fast could add pressure on the ruling party ahead of upcoming local elections, where the Maratha vote is considered pivotal.
Jarange's move follows a series of recent protests by Maratha groups over perceived marginalisation in employment and educational quotas. While the fast has garnered sympathy from some sections of the public, critics argue that indefinite hunger strikes risk escalating tensions without offering concrete solutions.
The situation remains fluid, and observers are waiting to see whether the protest will prompt a formal dialogue between the Maratha leadership and the state administration.
The fast, which has no predetermined end date, is being held at a public venue in Maharashtra, drawing attention from local media and supporters of the Maratha cause. Jarange has called for a meeting with senior government officials to discuss his grievances, warning that the protest will continue until his demands are met.
State authorities have not commented on the allegations, but the Chief Minister's office issued a generic response, stating that the government remains committed to the welfare of all citizens. Political analysts note that the fast could add pressure on the ruling party ahead of upcoming local elections, where the Maratha vote is considered pivotal.
Jarange's move follows a series of recent protests by Maratha groups over perceived marginalisation in employment and educational quotas. While the fast has garnered sympathy from some sections of the public, critics argue that indefinite hunger strikes risk escalating tensions without offering concrete solutions.
The situation remains fluid, and observers are waiting to see whether the protest will prompt a formal dialogue between the Maratha leadership and the state administration.