Activist Manoj Jarange has announced plans to march to Mumbai and begin an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan on September 19, demanding reservation for the Maratha community in jobs and education. The protest is set to take place amid the Ganpati festival, which runs from September 14 to 25, according to a report from NDTV India. Jarange, who has led similar protests in the past, will start his march from Antarwali Sarati on September 15, with designated halting points in Beed, Ahilyanagar, Pune, Raigad, and Navi Mumbai before reaching Mumbai. The protesters will cover approximately 100 kilometers each day, as per his announcement at a press conference.

The hunger strike is part of a broader agitation for Maratha reservation, which Jarange claims has been stalled by the Maharashtra government. He accused the state administration of failing to implement gazette-related demands and issuing caste certificates based on 58 lakh Kunbi records. Jarange emphasized the need for peaceful protest, urging participants to avoid violence and adhere to a code of conduct. He also called on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to ensure the movement is not obstructed, stating that if police attempt to block the march, agitators should find an alternative route rather than confront barricades.

The Bombay High Court recently dismissed a petition seeking to halt the protest, ruling that individuals have the right to protest and that no restraining order can be issued solely on the basis of law and order concerns. Jarange's previous hunger strike in Mumbai last year had caused significant disruption, including traffic congestion around the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). This time, he has also encouraged women to participate in the agitation by visiting the residences of Amruta Fadnavis and Lata Shinde, the wives of the chief minister and deputy chief minister, respectively, and holding traditional 'haldi-kumkum' ceremonies to convey their demands.

Jarange's main demand is for a Government Resolution (GR) allowing Marathas to claim reservation benefits previously reserved for the Kunbi community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. However, this proposal has faced strong opposition from OBC groups, who argue that it would dilute their share of benefits. The dispute highlights the broader tensions over caste-based reservations in Maharashtra, where multiple communities have competing claims.

What remains unclear is the exact number of participants expected to join the march, the level of support from local authorities, and the potential impact of the protest on daily life in Mumbai. While the court has affirmed the right to protest, the scale of the movement and its potential to cause disruption remain uncertain. The situation underscores the ongoing challenges in resolving caste-based reservation disputes in India, where political and social tensions often intersect with legal and administrative processes.