IndiaMaratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange began his 11th day of hunger strike in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district on August 29, 2026, demanding Kunbi certificates for all 58 lakh applicants whose records had been verified, including those whose applications were rejected during the caste scrutiny process. Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil visited the area to discuss the issue with Jarange and stated that only 0.3% of applications had been rejected, with the government issuing certificates to most eligible applicants. Vikhe Patil urged applicants to submit their documents to district collectors within eight days for expedited processing. However, Jarange insisted that all 58 lakh recorded applicants must receive certificates. The state government provided data showing that 14,24,634 individuals had received Kunbi certificates, with 1,747 pending and 5,248 rejected. Local organizations planned a rally involving 1,000 rickshaws from Dharashiv district to support Jarange's protest.
Bias read (Center): The article presents both the activist's demands and the government's responses without overtly favoring either side. It includes direct quotes from both Manoj Jarange and Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, providing a balanced view of the situation. There is no evident editorial slm
