Mumbai: Maratha activist Manoj Jarange ended his indefinite hunger strike on Tuesday evening, on the fifth day of his fast, after the Maharashtra government agreed on two key demands.
Maharashtra minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil handed Jarange a copy of a state government resolution accepting his demands, including the primary one of according Kunbi status — an OBC category — to the Maratha community from Marathwada region.
A government resolution (GR) was issued in the evening for implementation of the Hyderabad Gazette, through which Kunbi caste certificates would be distributed after verification.
Jarange took a sip of juice from the minister, in the presence of cabinet sub-committee members, as his supporters cheered at Azad Maidan.
Jarange, who was taken to a hospital for a medical checkup, called it a victory for the thousands of agitators who were protesting at Azad Maidan since August 29.
#WATCH | “Maratha vijay zala aj vijay zala, sukhi zala (Marathas have emerged victorious today and we are happy),” says Maratha Reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil as he is being carried from his protest stage to the ambulance.
He was sitting on a fast unto death demanding… pic.twitter.com/7z5AgbmTYi
— ANI (@ANI) September 2, 2025
“We have won,” Jarange told his supporters who took out a celebratory procession chanting their leader’s name.
Jarange said the government had also promised to withdraw cases against the protesters by end of September. Also, compensation and government jobs would be given to the kin of those who lost their lives during the protests.
Azad Maidan agitation
Around 4,000 protesters launched an agitation at Azad Maidan on Friday, and were joined by many more as they demanded a 10% quota for Maratha community in government jobs and education under OBC category.
The protests led to massive congestion in south Mumbai, and the matter reached Bombay High Court, which noted on Monday that the agitation had “literally paralysed” Mumbai and ordered that the protest site be vacated by 3 pm on Tuesday.
There was a tense standoff between protesters and police in the morning as efforts were made to clear the site.
Later in the day, however, Bombay High Court allowed Jarange to stay at Azad Maidan till the morning of September 3.
That, however, won’t be needed as Jarange ended his fast.
