![]() | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page . (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
![]() | |
Native name | मराठा क्रांती मोर्चा |
---|---|
Location | Worldwide |
Also known as | मराठा क्रांती (मूक) मोर्चा |
Organised by | Maratha Community |
The Maratha Kranti Morcha, loosely translated as "Maratha revolutionary march" in the Marathi language, was a series of silent and pragmatic protests organized by the Maratha community in various cities across India, and in overseas diaspora communities. Other groups, such as Muslims and other religious minorities, also supported the Morcha. [1] The impetus for the rallies was the rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl in Kopardi village, Maharashtra, on 13 July 2016. [2] The protesters demanded the death sentence for the rapists. The Maratha caste dominate the power and cultural structure in Maharashtra due to the size of their population. [3]
The rallies featured no leaders and no slogans. Millions of people from across Maharashtra came together to protest, and initially no harm was done to any public or private property until January 2017, when a few instances of violence were noted. [4]
The demand for Maratha reservations in educational positions and government jobs were also a part of these protests. At the time, the Bombay High Court had recently upheld the reservations granted to the Maratha community, but also mentioned that the percentage of quotas given wasn't justifiable. [5] Later, the Supreme Court quashed the Maratha community reservations. [6] A large percentage of Marathis are farmers, and the community had been severely affected by droughts and degraded arable land. Due to the lack of reservations, unemployment had become a major problem in the Maratha community. Some castes within the Maratha community, known as Kunbi, did receive the benefits of reservations provided to the Other Backward Class category; however, most people were alleged to have lost their benefits.
Part of a series on |
Discrimination |
---|
![]() |
The Maratha Kranti Morcha carried out its largest silent protest in the financial capital of India, Mumbai, on 9 August 2017. Around half a million members of the Maratha community from across the state gathered in Mumbai. The protest started from Jijamata Zoo Byculla and culminated at Azad Maidan in Mumbai. Schools, junior colleges, and about 450 institutes in South Mumbai remained shut. Mumbai's famed Dabbawalas took the day off to participate in the morcha. [41]
During the silent protest, leaders from the Maratha community also warned that they would switch to violent tactics after two weeks if state authorities did not act on their demands. [42]
Manoj Jarange-Patil, a Maratha quota activist, has been a prominent figure in the Maratha Community's fight for reservation in Maharashtra. He is leading multiple agitations and protests, including dharna and hunger strikes. [43]
Manoj Jarange-Patil demanded reservation for Maratha under the Other Backward Class category. Manoj Jarange-Patil started a hunger strike on 29 August 2025 10:00AM at Azad Maidan in the city of Mumbai to exert pressure on the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis. [44] [45] [46]
The government provisions were inadequate for basic sanitary facilities for protesters include an adequate supply of clean mobile toilets, regular cleaning and maintenance of these facilities, and provisions for clean drinking water. The essential sanitary facilities were inadequate at all protest sites. An adequate numbers of clean mobile toilets were not provided for all protesters, with a specific focus on the needs of women. The free access to clean drinking water was not provided for all protesters. The waste management system was not implement for regular collection and disposal of solid waste from all protest sites. The basic hygiene items such as bathroom sanitary soap and water was not provided to maintain personal hygiene at all protest sites. The Medical facilities and outreach services with doctors and health professionals was not provided to care and handle referrals. The mental health care and counselling teams was not deployed to support protesters. The climate protection tents or other shelters was not provided to protesters from extreme rainy weather. The street lights were not provided at protest site Azad Maidan Mumbai. [48] [49] [50]
The Government of Maharashtra rejected Maratha quota reservation under the Other Backward Class category as demanded by Manoj Jarange-Patil [53] [54] Manoj Jarange-Patil warned the Government of Maharashtra that it should not test the patience of the Maratha community. [55]
As hunger strike of Manoj Jarange-Patil enter in 3rd day, and no prompt action initiated from the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis on Maratha reservations issue, a resentment shown on social media by Maratha commodity with sharing a old statements of Devendra Fadnavis.
"Where there is will, there is a way! Where there is no will, there is survey and report!" - Devendra Fadnavis [57]
Manoj Jarange-Patil renunciate water and continued hunger strike as the Government of Maharashtra not accepting the demands. [58]
Manoj Jarange-Patil hunger strike was continued; a non-violent form of protest to draw judiciary attention to injustices and pressure the Government of Maharashtra to meet demands of reservation for Maratha community under the Other Backward Class category. [59]
The Government of Maharashtra accepted the demands of reservation for Maratha community under the Other Backward Class category by issuing Kunbi caste certificates to eligible individuals of Maratha community as part of the Maratha-Kunbi and Kunbi-Maratha cluster. Manoj Jarange-Patil ended his hunger strike on 5th day after invocation by Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, the chairman of subcommittee of the Government of Maharashtra . [60]
Road blockades (chakka jams) were held on 31 January 2017 to gather momentum and mount pressure on the state government before the community’s silent rally scheduled in Mumbai on 6 March 2017.
31 January 2017 – Mumbai [62] and across Maharashtra [63]
On 23 July 2018, a Maratha Kranti Morcha activist committed suicide; the protesters refuse to collect the body and demanded the resignation of Devendra Fadnavis, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Kakasaheb Shinde-Patil, aged 28 committed suicide by jumping into the Godavari River during agitations at the village of Kaygaon Toka in the Gangapur taluka of Aurangabad District. The protesters blamed the district administration for not deploying boats and lifeguards despite being forewarned about the agitations. [66]
On 24 July 2018, protests turned violent; protesters attacked police officers and torched buses, police vehicles, and private cars. [67]
25 July 2018 – Mumbai, [68] Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Thane, Kalyan, Palghar, Raigad
Maratha groups announced a shutdown across Maharashtra on August Kranti Day 2018 to intensify agitation for reservations. August Kranti Day is celebrated annually on 9 August. The Marathas launched a non-cooperation movement against the Government of Maharashtra and the Government of India. The non-cooperation movement covers non-payment of taxes to government and local bodies until reservations are implemented. [84] [85]
After continuously growing protests in each city and millions of people's participation in each Maratha Kranti Morcha, on 13 October 2016 the Government of Maharashtra took the decisions to: [86] and
As the Bombay high court had stayed the 16% reservation granted to Maratha in government jobs and educational positions on the grounds that the data used by the government was faulty, the Government of Maharashtra on 5 December 2016 filed a 2,800-page affidavit to justify the reservations for Maratha as legal and show that it did not violate constitutional provisions. The affidavit contained documents substantiating the claim that the community is socially and educationally backward. [87]
The threat to the BJP’s hegemony is dire, as caste assertion threatens to break through the Hindutva patina. [88]
The impact of the Maratha agitation was such that two MPs from Shinde’s Shiv Sena – Hemant Patil and Hemant Godse – announced their resignation from the Lok Sabha in support of the protesters and their demand. BJP MPs openly extended his support to the Maratha community. [89] [90] [91]
In General Election, the Maratha reservation issue damaged the prospects of the BJP-led Maha Yuti thus reducing the overall number of the BJP and the NDA. [92]
The Maratha reservation issue is once again flaring up in Maharashtra this time in the run up for the mega local bodies elections in the state. [93] [94]
Chhagan Bhujbal suggested the Government of Maharashtra to carry out caste wise "Maharashtra Janganana" refers to the caste wise census of Maharashtra during 2027 census of India. The caste wise census will help to assess the actual outcomes of Reservation Schemes and to draft better targeted and equitable policies.
A 2024 report from the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (MSBCC) indicated that Maratha make up about 28% of the state's population. [99] The exact percentage of the Kunbi caste in Maharashtra is not precisely reported, but they are often grouped with Maratha as part of the Maratha-Kunbi and Kunbi-Maratha cluster, which accounts for approximately 30% to 40% of the state's population. The Kunbi caste has Reservation in the Other Backward Class category. The exact population percentage for the Other Backward Class (OBC) in Maharashtra is disputed, with estimates ranging from 33.8% (based on 2011 census data) to over 38%, as suggested by recent analyses of educational and administrative datasets. A 2022 report by the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (MSBCC) analyzing data from the SARAL and UDISE reports indicated the Other Backward Class (OBC) population exceeding 38%. [100]
Nothing in this article or in sub-clause (g) of clause (1) of article 19 shall prevent the State from making any special provision, by law, for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes in so far as such special provisions relate to their admission to educational institutions including private educational institutions, whether aided or unaided by the State, other than the minority educational institutions referred to in clause (1) of article 30.] [102]