Overview

• Manoj Jarange Patil launched an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan and vowed not to leave until demands are met, warning he will stop drinking water within two days if there is no movement.
• Police initially allowed a 9 am–6 pm gathering capped at 5,000, but crowds far exceeded the limit and permission was extended for August 30 with additional conditions.
• South Mumbai experienced severe disruption as supporters clogged roads near CSMT and Fort, key corridors like the Eastern Freeway were shut to regular traffic, and rail hubs saw heavy congestion.
• More than 1,500 Mumbai Police personnel were deployed with CRPF, RAF, CISF and Maharashtra Security Force support, and officials cautioned organisers after sit-ins and provocative sloganeering were reported.
• Jarange’s central demand is blanket recognition of Marathas as Kunbis under the OBC category to access a 10% quota, a contentious path given Supreme Court rulings that struck down past attempts breaching the 50% cap.