Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Mumbai Police Deny Jarange Hunger Strike Amid Ganeshotsav Concerns
Mumbai Police said Manoj Jarange Patil cannot hold his planned indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan starting September 19.
Jarange wants eligible Marathas to receive reservation benefits linked to the Kunbi community.
Police said the Ganesh festival will bring large crowds and require many officers.
They are concerned that another large protest could cause traffic and safety problems.
Police also cited rules for public demonstrations and alleged problems during earlier protests.
Jarange said he would still travel toward Mumbai on September 15 and continue peacefully.
One report said he would go alone, while others said about 10 people and two ambulances might accompany him.
The Bombay High Court had declined to immediately stop the proposed protest because trouble could not simply be assumed.
OBC groups oppose the demand because they fear it could affect their existing reservation benefits.
Mumbai Police denied Manoj Jarange Patil permission to hold an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan from September 19.
Police cited Ganeshotsav security demands, crowd management, traffic disruption and possible law-and-order problems.
Officials also referred to protest rules and alleged violations of venue conditions during Jarange’s earlier demonstrations.
Jarange said he would travel from Antarwali-Sarati toward Mumbai on September 15 and continue his agitation despite the denial; reports differed on whether he would go entirely alone or with about 10 people and two ambulances.
Jarange is seeking Kunbi certificates and related Other Backward Classes reservation benefits for eligible Marathas, while OBC groups oppose the demand.
- Who
- Mumbai Police, Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil, the Maharashtra government, OBC groups and the Bombay High Court are involved.
- What
- Police denied permission for Jarange Patil’s proposed indefinite hunger strike and march over Maratha reservation demands.
- When
- Police issued the denial on Sunday; Jarange said he would leave on September 15 and planned to begin the hunger strike on September 19. Ganeshotsav is scheduled for September 14-25.
- Where
- The proposed hunger strike is at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, while Jarange is based at Antarwali-Sarati in Jalna district.
- Why
- Police cited security, crowd-management, traffic and festival-deployment concerns. Jarange is seeking Kunbi-linked OBC reservation benefits for eligible Marathas.
Police and Government Concerns
Jarange’s Protest Position
Festival security
Police and Government Concerns
Mumbai Police says a large demonstration during Ganeshotsav could strain deployments and create crowd, traffic and law-and-order problems.
Jarange’s Protest Position
Jarange says the protest will be peaceful and accuses the government of using festival-related concerns to block a democratic agitation.
Protest authorization
Police and Government Concerns
Police cited Maharashtra’s protest rules and alleged non-compliance with conditions during previous demonstrations, including crowd limits and venue requirements.
Jarange’s Protest Position
Jarange questioned why authorities assume protesters will break rules before the protest begins and said his legal team would challenge the order.
Reservation impact
Police and Government Concerns
OBC groups oppose extending Kunbi-linked reservation benefits to eligible Marathas, saying their existing share of benefits could be affected.
Jarange’s Protest Position
Jarange demands a government resolution and Kunbi certificates for eligible Marathas based on old records and gazette documents.
- Police decision
- Azad Maidan Police rejected Jarange Patil’s request in a six-page letter signed by senior inspector Raja Bidkar.
- Proposed dates
- Jarange said he would leave Antarwali-Sarati on September 15 and planned to begin an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan on September 19.
- Festival period
- Ganeshotsav is scheduled from September 14 to 25.
- Rules cited
- Police referred to Maharashtra’s 2025 rules governing public meetings, demonstrations and processions, including restrictions on protest duration and location.
- Police concerns
- Officials cited stretched deployments, expected crowds, possible law-and-order problems, traffic disruption and alleged non-compliance during earlier protests.
- Court position
- The Bombay High Court declined to issue an urgent order stopping the proposed protest, saying demonstrations could not be restricted solely because trouble was apprehended.
- Reservation demand
- Jarange wants eligible Marathas to receive Kunbi certificates and access to reservation available to the Kunbi community under the OBC category.
Sources
Jarange to March Alone to Mumbai After Protest Permission Denied
Mumbai Police deny permission for Manoj Jarange Patil’s hungerstrike
Activist Manoj Jarange Announces Solo Protest In Mumbai's Azad Maidan
Cops deny nod for Jarange's hunger strike
