In a controversial statement, BJP MLC Sanjay Kenekar called Maratha activist Manoj Jarange a suicide bomber of Nationalist Congress Party (SP-SP) chief Sharad Pawar.
Jarange launched an indefinite hunger strike in Mumbai on Friday, demanding reservation for the community under the OBC category.
#WATCH | Maharashtra: As Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil continues his hunger strike, his supporters take to the streets around Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai over the reservation issue.
— ANI (@ANI) August 30, 2025
Mumbai Police officials and RPF personnel present… pic.twitter.com/3jxiZq6sF3
Kenekar’s remarks came after Jarange made a scathing attack on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, accusing him of trying to create instability and vitiate the atmosphere in the state.
He also accused the government of spreading misinformation about the Maratha community’s agitation.
The BJP leaders allege that Jarange is targeting Fadnavis as he is a Brahmin. They point out that the activist has not spoken anything against Fadnavis’s deputies—Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar.
Jarange and his supporters have been demanding a 10 per cent quota for Marathas in government jobs and education. He wants Marathas to be recognised as Kunbis, an agrarian caste included in the OBC category, which will make them eligible for reservation.
On Saturday, he issued a stern warning, saying “the government should not test the patience of the Maratha community".
The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (AVA), in which the NCP(SP) is a part of, has trained guns at the government, asking it to talk to the activist.
MVA leaders have said the only solution was for the Centre to waive the 50 per cent cap on reservations and conduct a caste census.
VIDEO | Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut says, "...Maratha leader Manoj Jarange Patil is protesting in Mumbai, the court shouldn't interfere. The protest is peaceful, and now CM Devendra Fadnavis should go and meet Jarange Patil; if not, the situation will deteriorate.… pic.twitter.com/ViQ3rOrTZ5
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 30, 2025
Thousands of protesters have reached south Mumbai to extend support to Jarange, who launched his hunger strike at Azad Maidan on Friday.
"We are ready to stay in Mumbai for as long as it takes. Until the Maratha community gets a reservation, we won't leave," one of the protesters was heard saying.
