As the nation witnessed the Ram temple consecration, another significant event unfolded in Maharashtra – a massive Maratha morcha (protest) led by Manoj Jarange Patil. Starting from Jalna on January 20, this protest traversed through Ahmednagar and is set to reach Mumbai on January 26. Massive crowds were seen taking part in this protest demanding the implementation of the Maratha reservation.

Patil also issued an ultimatum saying that he will go on a hunger strike starting January 26 in Mumbai if their demand for Maratha reservation isn't met. 

The Marathas have carried out more than 50 protests between 2016 and 2018. In 2018, the M.G. Gaikwad Commission recommended including the community in the Socially and Economically Backward Classes category. Consequently, the Maharashtra government unanimously passed a bill granting the Maratha community 16% reservation in jobs and education in November that year. The Supreme Court, citing the Indra Sawhney judgment, ruled that reservations should not surpass 50% and thus struck down the Maratha reservation in 2021. The agitation for Maratha reservations was then revived in September 2023.

Patil gained prominence in September last year after the Maharashtra police lathi-charged on a Maratha protest in Jalna. Despite breaking a 17-day hunger strike after a meeting with chief minister Eknath Shinde, unanswered ultimatums led him to declare this morcha from Jalna to Mumbai via Ahmednagar and Pune.

This time, the Marathas demanded that they be included in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category by granting all Marathas a Kunbi caste certificate. The OBCs are opposed to giving Marathas any space within the reservation system and the conflicting demands have sparked protests across various districts of Maharashtra. These were led by Chagan Bhujbal who belongs to the Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP’s) Ajit Pawar faction. Some say Bhujbal is trying to project himself as a future leader of the state. 

Understanding the demographics

India Human Development Survey (IHDS) data shows that, in Maharashtra, 32.8% of the populations belongs to the OBC category, 26.6% to the Maratha community, 9.7% are from Scheduled Castes (SC), 9.3% from Scheduled Tribes (ST), 6.6% constitute Other Upper Castes (OUC), 5.8% are Muslims, and 1.8% are Brahmins.

Despite Marathas constituting a significant portion of the population, especially in urban areas, disparities exist. Urban statistics show only 12% of Marathas in the "poor and poorest" categories, with 70% belonging to the affluent class. Educational performance and economic strata indicate a robust presence putting them second only to the Brahmin community. However, as per a research paper by Sumeet Mhaskar, IHDS data indicates that 38% of Marathas in rural areas fall into the "poor and poorest" category, revealing that the community faces challenges primarily in villages.

Historically a dominant community, Marathas faced economic setbacks post-1990, with the closure of mills in Mumbai. The economic shift forced many into poverty, prompting a return to villages where agriculture was no longer profitable.

Economic vulnerabilities led Marathas to rely on public institutions, facing tough competition for open category seats due to financial constraints. Exorbitant fees in private institutions and unauthorised commissions added to their challenges.

The Counter-protests

The OBC community, under the leadership of Bhujbal, has vehemently opposed the proposition to grant Marathas OBC reservation. Bhujbal, a key political figure in Maharashtra, has been vocal about the potential adverse impact on the existing 300 OBC communities if Marathas are included in this category. He argues that such inclusion would disproportionately affect other OBC groups and stands firm against endorsing the proposal. This opposition from the OBCs is seen as a significant hurdle for the implementation of Maratha reservation.

Shinde has attempted to placate Patil, but his alliance with OBC leaders like Bhujbal has lead to a deadlock. 

Now the question remains: Will Maratha reservation be granted, or will Patil's agitation challenge the Maharashtra government? Watch the video to know more.

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