Maratha Quota Activist Manoj Jarange-Patil Gives Maharashtra Government Ultimatum on Kunbi Certificates
Pro-Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil has thrown down the gauntlet to the Maharashtra government. On Monday, he demanded that they start issuing Kunbi certificates to Maratha community members by September 17, which marks the Marathwada Mukti Sangram Day. This comes amid ongoing demands for Maratha reservation in the state.
Jarange-Patil urged the Devendra Fadnavis-led MahaYuti government to discuss and approve this in the cabinet meeting on Tuesday or Wednesday. He reminded everyone that he recently ended a five-day protest in Mumbai after the government released a resolution on using the Hyderabad Gazetteer to grant these Kunbi certificates to Marathas. But now, he’s warning them not to backtrack or make any changes to the plan.
"Get those village committees working right away," he said. "If the government doesn’t decide by September 17, I’ll have no choice but to take action." Jarange-Patil stressed that Maratha families should get the full benefits promised in the resolution, with Kunbi certificates issued without any interference.
He sounded confident about the future, adding, "Once the government kicks off the resolution, the entire Maratha community in Marathwada will enjoy full reservation. Our opponents are losing sleep over this—they’re that rattled. Marathas, don’t worry. Just stay calm, accept wins and losses with patience, and we’ll be fine."
The activist didn’t hold back on the timeline. He threatened that if the Hyderabad Gazetteer isn’t implemented immediately and recorded properly, the Maratha leadership will come out strongly against the government at the upcoming Dussehra gathering. "Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil all promised to roll out the Hyderabad Gazetteer. Start giving Kunbi certificates to Marathas by September 17. Use the Gazetteer entries to extend these to all unregistered Marathas in every village," he demanded.
Jarange-Patil expressed full faith that the government won’t insult the Marathas anymore and will issue the certificates based on the Gazetteer. "Marathas have always come out on top. We’ve fought a huge battle here. If anyone tries to tweak the resolution, we’ll have to change the government itself. Just issue the certificates and drop the drama. We won’t tolerate any mistakes. The GR on the Hyderabad Gazetteer was announced publicly, and the CM confirmed it would happen."
In a sharp, indirect jab, Jarange-Patil targeted state Minister and OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who plans to challenge the GR in court. "If you listen to him and make even small changes, or twist the GR on his advice, we’ll go after the 1994 GR that gives OBC reservation—and it might get scrapped too. Back out on your word, and we’ll fight even harder," he warned. He went further, saying, "If Bhujbal meddles and creates trouble with our GR, he won’t be able to move around freely in the state."
Jarange-Patil hopes Fadnavis will stick to the commitment and avoid angering the Marathas. This all follows his hunger strike, which he ended after the government’s assurances.
Earlier, CM Fadnavis had clarified the government’s stance on Maratha reservation and OBC rights. "Marathas will get their due benefits, and OBCs will get theirs too. We won’t let anyone pit the communities against each other. The state has made a fair decision that helps both. The Hyderabad Gazetteer will be the proof—if someone’s grandfather or great-grandfather is listed under Kunbi caste there, they’ll qualify for benefits and get a certificate as per the rules. The government won’t allow any clashes between Marathas and OBCs over this."
The push for Maratha quota in Maharashtra continues to heat up, with eyes on how the government responds to this ultimatum on Kunbi certificates and the Hyderabad Gazetteer implementation.
