Maharashtra govt open to 'legally valid' Maratha quota demands as Jarange fast continues

The Maharashtra government on Sunday indicated its willingness to discuss “legally valid” demands of the Maratha community, even as activist Manoj Jarange remained firm on his demand for Kunbi caste certificates. The development comes amid contrasting aspirations of the Maratha and Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities over reservation in education and government jobs.

Mr. Jarange, who is on an indefinite hunger strike from Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, has set a September 12 deadline for the government to accept his demands. He has also warned of demonstrations by Maratha community members in Mumbai if the deadline is not met.

On the second day of his fast, Mr. Jarange opposed a rally of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Parbhani city, questioning the need for the “political event” when his agitation was ongoing. Police detained some individuals in connection with the opposition, an official said without elaborating.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, reacting cautiously, said the government is open to discussing demands that are constitutionally valid and legally viable, and not those violative of the Supreme Court's orders. “Earlier also we found a way to address their issues, and we are going forward to resolve their demands. Similarly, Eknath Shinde is also very sensitive to these issues from the very beginning,” he told reporters in Nagpur.

Addressing a rally of agriculturists in Parbhani, Mr. Shinde said the Mahayuti government and Mr. Jarange are on the same page in supporting farmers. He rejected allegations that the rally was aimed at political muscle flexing, and said the government’s representatives were attending the event to discuss the demands of the Maratha protesters.

The core of Mr. Jarange’s demand is the recognition of Marathas as Kunbi, a sub-caste classified under the OBC category. This recognition would enable Marathas to avail of reservation benefits in education and government jobs, similar to those enjoyed by OBC groups. He has claimed that 58 lakh records of Kunbi genealogical links of Marathas have been found, and that the government was trying to slash this figure.

The Maratha community has been agitating for reservation for years. The community has sought reservation based on the Satara Gazette, which historically documented Kunbi status for certain Maratha families. Other demands include the withdrawal of all police cases registered against quota protesters across Maharashtra, and providing government jobs and financial compensation to the families of those who died during previous agitations.

The issue is politically sensitive in Maharashtra, where both Marathas and OBCs form significant vote banks. The state government has to balance the demands of the Maratha community with the legal framework and the concerns of the OBC communities, who fear that any extension of Kunbi status to Marathas could dilute their own reservation benefits.

The Supreme Court has previously struck down quota laws that exceeded the 50% ceiling, and any new reservation for Marathas would need to be within constitutional limits. The state government’s cautious approach reflects this legal complexity.

As the hunger strike continues, all eyes are on the government's next move. The September 12 deadline set by Mr. Jarange adds urgency to the ongoing dialogue, with both sides appearing to leave room for negotiation.