Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange has escalated his agitation for reservation under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, issuing a stern warning that if the Maratha community is not granted reservation, members from across Maharashtra will join the protest by next weekend. Currently staging an indefinite fast at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai, Jarange announced he would intensify his protest by refusing to consume water starting Monday. His primary demand is that all Marathas be given Kunbi caste certificates, which would make them eligible for OBC reservation. The agitation, which entered its fourth day on Monday, has seen no signs of resolution, with Jarange explicitly stating his unwillingness to grant additional time to the Mahayuti government, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, to address the issue.

Accusing the government of neglecting the Maratha community's demands, Jarange declared that youth from all over Maharashtra would converge on the protest site the following weekend. He emphasized the significant impact their arrival would have, drawing widespread applause and slogans from his supporters. Reiterating his core demand, Jarange asserted, “All Marathas must be given Kunbi certificates. Nobody can stop us from getting the OBC quota.” In response to opposition from some OBC leaders, Jarange warned that the Mahayuti government relies on Maratha support, stating, “If Marathas withdraw support from the Mahayuti, not even a gram panchayat member from their alliance will get elected.” He further suggested that resentment within the Maratha community could lead to the defeat of Mahayuti candidates in upcoming village and municipal elections.

The Bombay High Court has strongly criticized the Maharashtra government for its handling of the Maratha reservation protests at Azad Maidan. On Tuesday, the court observed that the site could have been vacated “forcefully” to comply with earlier court directions and mitigate public inconvenience. Jarange's indefinite fast, which began the previous Friday, led to thousands of his supporters blocking roads and railway stations, causing significant disruption for Mumbai commuters. During the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the disruptions, the bench of Acting Chief Justice S.V. Chandrashekhar and Justice Aarti Sathe questioned the State's reliance on Jarange's influence to normalize the situation, rather than enforcing judicial orders.

The High Court had previously expressed displeasure on Monday over the widespread disruption caused by protestors in South Mumbai, instructing them to restrict their activities to the designated Azad Maidan. Following the court's ultimatum, Jarange appealed to his supporters to respect the order, which led many to clear roads and CSMT railway station. Advocate General Dr. Birendra Saraf, representing the State, informed the court that police had made announcements and displayed banners, but large gatherings persisted, and only Jarange's appeal had effectively dispersed the remaining protestors. However, the Chief Justice was unimpressed, rebuking the State's approach: “So you are relying on his popularity? Why can’t you implement our orders? It is your duty. Why didn’t you inform the court that the number of participants had increased from 5,000 to over a lakh? We will have to pass orders against you too. You could have taken all necessary steps. You could have vacated the site forcefully. This is a very serious issue. We are unhappy with your conduct.” Jarange’s lawyer sought time until Wednesday, claiming 90 percent of protestors had left, but the court questioned Jarange's continued presence beyond his 24-hour permission, warning that his continued defiance could lead to legal action to uphold the rule of law. The court also indicated that Jarange could be held responsible for instigating crowds beyond permitted limits, adjourning the matter to Wednesday.

Adding to the complexity, the ongoing dispute has ignited internal tensions within the Maha Yuti government. Veteran OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal notably skipped the weekly Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, a day after the state government accepted the Maratha community's demand for reservation under the OBC category. This move drew sharp criticism from the OBC community, which has threatened large-scale protests if their existing quota is compromised. The Rashtriya OBC Mahasangh had already initiated a chain hunger strike in Nagpur on August 30, protesting the Maratha demand for OBC-category reservation through the Hyderabad Gazette's implementation.

In an effort to de-escalate the situation and address OBC grievances, the state government formed a nine-member Cabinet sub-committee led by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule. The panel, including prominent figures like Chhagan Bhujbal, Ganesh Naik, and Pankaja Munde, is tasked with examining the social, educational, and financial status of the OBC community, reviewing existing welfare schemes, and ensuring fair representation in state services and public sector undertakings. Sources close to Mr. Bhujbal indicated his dissatisfaction with how the government handled Maratha demands, viewing his absence from the Cabinet meeting as a strong message. Bhujbal has also warned of a potential legal challenge against the Government Resolution (GR) related to the Hyderabad Gazette, which facilitates Maratha reservation under the OBC category, citing ambiguous language and the need to review its legal implications. Meanwhile, OBC leader Laxman Hake publicly tore a copy of the GR, accusing the government of unconstitutional and illegal actions and warning of a political boycott against supporters of the Maratha quota agitation.

The legal implications of applying historical documents like the Hyderabad and Satara gazetteers to classify Marathas as Kunbis remain a central point of contention. Senior minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, who heads a cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation, held a key meeting with Maharashtra’s Advocate General Biren Saraf and retired High Court judge Sandeep Shinde. Following the meeting, Vikhe-Patil stated that Saraf and Justice Shinde requested more time to study the legal applicability of these gazetteers as per Jarange’s demand. He highlighted a critical hurdle: “There is a Supreme Court observation regarding the classification of Marathas and Kunbis, which says they are not the same. We cannot override this. However, we remain open to discussions as a solution must be found.” This observation poses a significant challenge to the legal justification of granting Kunbi certificates to all Marathas based on historical records.

The multifaceted Maratha reservation issue continues to pose significant challenges, entailing fervent community protests, direct judicial scrutiny of governmental actions, internal political discord within the ruling alliance, and complex legal debates over historical classifications and Supreme Court observations. The situation underscores a delicate balance between fulfilling community demands, upholding legal precedents, and maintaining social harmony in Maharashtra.