Manoj Jarange Demands Kunbi Certificates for 58 Lakh Maratha Records

Quota activist Manoj Jarange on Monday alleged that the Maharashtra government intends to reduce the number of Kunbi caste certificates issued to eligible members of the Maratha community, demanding instead that certificates be issued based on 58 lakh identified records.

Speaking to reporters in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Mr. Jarange urged the Maratha community to pursue its demands assertively without coming under pressure from any political party or individual. He affirmed that an agitation would proceed to secure all pending demands.

Mr. Jarange announced he will tour the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions from August 20 to August 25. He reiterated his plan to launch an indefinite fast starting August 29 to seek an OBC quota for eligible Maratha community members.

In addition to issuing certificates from the 58 lakh records, Mr. Jarange demanded that Kunbi caste certificates issued so far be validated. His other demands include issuing government resolutions for the Satara, Kolhapur, Aundh, and Bombay gazettes, dropping cases filed against Maratha protesters, and completing government appointments for candidates selected under SEBC and EWS quotas before August 29.

He further called on the government to release pending dues, finalize job appointments for relatives of individuals who died during quota agitations, settle student scholarships, and clear reimbursements through the Annasaheb Patil Mahamandal. He also demanded that halted schemes under the Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research, Training and Human Development Institute (SARTHI) be resumed with adequate funding.

Mr. Jarange also referenced a meeting held on Sunday at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna with community scholars. He alleged that certain leaders from the ruling parties, including Ministers Sanjay Shirsat and Chandrashekhar Bawankule, MP Sandipan Bhumre, and Maratha reservation sub-committee head Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, were creating obstacles and subjecting issued validity certificates to fresh scrutiny.