Government Delegation Expresses Confidence in Resolving Maratha Protest Misunderstandings Through Direct Mediation Dialogues

Ahead of a scheduled high-stakes meeting, Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil affirmed that the state government remains committed to its legislative promises while clearing bureaucratic bottlenecks.

May 29, 2026 | Antarvali Sarati: Water Resources Minister and Maratha Sub-committee Chairman Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil expressed firm confidence that activist Manoj Jarange Patil will reconsider his planned indefinite hunger strike following their scheduled face-to-face discussions. Addressing reporters prior to his arrival at the protest epicenter, Vikhe Patil emphasized that the state administration has maintained a fully documented, transparent communication channel with the agitation leaders, intending to address any deep-seated misunderstandings regarding the ongoing execution of reservation policies.

The ministerial delegation, which includes MLA Prasad Lad, aims to directly address the agitators’ primary demands, specifically the procedural implementation of the Hyderabad Gazetteer, administrative job allocations for families of deceased protesters, and structural rectifications within current frameworks. Addressing concerns over implementation timelines, Vikhe Patil clarified that while the government has moved effectively on its commitments, complex legal frameworks naturally necessitate meticulous processing. He noted that once the administration presents the precise operational realities and legal limitations surrounding the Satara Gazetteer, the protest leadership will likely understand the technical challenges involved rather than pressing for immediate execution.

Providing an official update on administrative progress, the Minister disclosed that the state apparatus has already uncovered 58 lakh Kunbi lineage records, resulting in the successful distribution of over 2.5 lakh caste certificates. To overcome bottlenecks caused by unindexed genealogical data and unrecorded serial entries by regional officials, specialized linguistic experts have been deployed to decipher historical Modi script documents. Addressing the critical demand for legal leniency, Vikhe Patil stated that out of 961 original police cases registered against demonstrators, the majority have been successfully rescinded, leaving only 64 active cases. Commenting on the demand to dilute serious criminal sections within those remaining cases, the Minister noted that such modifications fall entirely outside executive jurisdiction.

Defending the current ruling coalition’s track record, Vikhe Patil recalled that the foundational groundwork for Maratha reservation was systematically laid under Devendra Fadnavis’s chief ministership between 2014 and 2019, contrasting it with the perceived stagnation during the subsequent two-and-a-half-year Maha Vikas Aghadi tenure. Reaffirming the state’s deep respect for Jarange Patil’s dedication toward the community, the Minister reiterated that the government’s primary focus remains on fortifying legally sound, sustainable reservation frameworks rather than offering fleeting temporary measures.

In an immediate response to the hunger strike warning, the state government has mobilized a high-level ministerial delegation to initiate mediation. Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, accompanied by MLA Prasad Lad, is scheduled to visit Antarvali Sarati on Friday, May 29, to hold urgent discussions with the activist. Accusing the political leadership of maintaining a double standard by actively seeking Maratha votes while systematically delaying constitutional reservation benefits, Jarange Patil reaffirmed that this upcoming protest will serve as the final, decisive battle for the community’s rights.

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