Jarange’s hunger strike beginning Saturday coincides with the third anniversary of the police

Manoj Jarange at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Quota activist Manoj Jarange is set to begin his “final and decisive” hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district on Saturday demanding Kunbi certificates for all eligible Marathas whose records have been traced. On Friday, he iterated that govt has “not done enough” to issue certificates to eligible Marathas whose records have been traced. He appealed to Maratha community members, particularly those whose applications have not been accepted or whose records have been found but are yet to get the certificates, to reach Antarwali Sarati.

The report, updated till July 31, 2026, shows that 58,90,145 Kunbi-related records have been traced across Maharashtra since the verification drive began. The report also shows that 14,31,634 applications for Kunbi caste certificates have been received across Maharashtra since Oct 24, 2023, when state govt extended the certificate drive beyond Marathwada to the rest of the state. Of these certificates, 14,24,639 have been issued, 5,248 applications rejected and 1,747 remain pending. The govt data puts the number of Kunbi-related records traced in Marathwada at 49,358, of which 49,063 have been scanned and uploaded. The region has received more than 3.11 lakh applications for Kunbi certificates. Jarange’s hunger strike beginning Saturday coincides with the third anniversary of the police lathicharge at Antarwali Sarati in 2023, an incident that became a turning point in the Maratha reservation agitation.

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Jarange, however, had rejected the govt’s contention that the “existing process is sufficient” and insisted that every eligible person, whose name appears in the 58 lakh records, should be issued Kunbi certificate. We will take immediate action on such applications,” Vikhe Patil said. Last week, a state delegation, led by Maratha reservation cabinet sub-committee chairperson Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, handed Jarange a district-wise status report on record verification during its visit to Antarwali Sarati. Govt has claimed that the overwhelming majority have been disposed of. Vikhe Patil, after reviewing the issue with officials, claimed that only a small proportion of applications had been rejected and that certificates were being issued to those who applied and fulfilled the prescribed requirements. “Those who believe they have the records and all documents are as per the govt rules should immediately apply to their respective district collectors within the next eight days. Here are more Raksha Bandhan wishes , Bhadra kaal and Shubh Muhurat from The Times of India. Download the TOI App.

Come out to save the future of your children,” he said, adding that the agitation could be taken to Mumbai if state govt failed to accept his demands. “Do not remain at home.