
Mon Sep 01 06:20:06 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a news article based on it:
**Summary:**
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange is on a hunger strike in Mumbai, demanding reservation for the Maratha community under the OBC category. Despite government efforts to find a court-sustainable solution and promises to seek legal opinion on the Kunbi status issue, Jarange remains steadfast in his protest and has vowed to intensify it. The Maharashtra government is working to resolve the situation while urging protestors to minimize disruption to Mumbai residents.
**News Article:**
**Maratha Quota Agitation Intensifies as Activist Refuses to Yield**
**Mumbai, September 1, 2025** – The Maratha quota issue has once again taken center stage as activist Manoj Jarange continues his hunger strike at Azad Maidan in Mumbai. Jarange, demanding a 10% reservation for the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, has vowed to abstain from water starting today, the fourth day of his protest.
Maharashtra Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who heads the cabinet sub-committee on the Maratha reservation issue, stated that the government is actively working towards a solution that will withstand legal scrutiny. Vikhe Patil met with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday to discuss the escalating situation. “We are working to resolve the issue. I agree it’s taking time. But the solution should be sustainable in courts,” he told reporters.
The government’s efforts include seeking legal opinion on implementing the Hyderabad gazetteer on Kunbi status for the Maratha community, a move intended to potentially classify them as OBC.
However, Jarange remains unimpressed with these measures and has declared that he will not leave the protest venue until his demands are met, even threatening escalation despite government response. He is demanding the immediate issuance of a Government Resolution (GR) based on available records to grant reservation.
Minister Vikhe Patil has urged protestors to avoid disrupting the daily lives of Mumbai residents, warning that such actions would negatively impact their cause. Chief Minister Fadnavis is expected to meet with his deputies, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, to strategize on ending the standoff. The situation remains tense as the state government grapples with finding a resolution that satisfies the demands of the Maratha community while remaining legally sound.