Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange has said his planned protest in Mumbai may be called off. The reason is his failing health. His hunger strike entered its 19th day, and doctors say his condition is getting worse.
Jarange is travelling to Mumbai even though the city police have denied him permission to hold his protest. He reached Patoda in Maharashtra's Beed district at around 11 am, nearly 14 hours after leaving Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district.
Jarange's Health Deteriorates on Day 19 of Hunger Strike
The doctor treating Jarange said his blood pressure and blood sugar have fallen severely. He is also suffering from acute dehydration. These are serious warning signs for anyone who has been on a hunger strike for this long.
Jarange himself acknowledged that his health could force him to stop. He said the Mumbai protest may be called off if his deteriorating health prevents him from continuing the journey.
Mumbai Police Deny Permission for Azad Maidan Protest
The Mumbai Police have denied permission for Jarange to hold his protest at Azad Maidan. Despite this, Jarange had started his journey toward the city.
He also urged his supporters not to follow him on the journey to Mumbai. This suggests he wants to avoid large crowds gathering along the route, especially given his weak condition.
- Jarange's hunger strike is now on its 19th day
- Doctors report severely low BP and blood sugar, plus acute dehydration
- He left Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district and reached Patoda in Beed district after nearly 14 hours
- Mumbai Police have denied permission for the protest at Azad Maidan
- Jarange has asked supporters not to accompany him to Mumbai
Our Take: Health Must Come First
In our view, this is a moment where human health matters more than any protest. A 19-day hunger strike is extremely dangerous. When doctors say blood pressure and blood sugar have fallen severely, and there is acute dehydration, the body is sending clear emergency signals.
Jarange's own statement that the Mumbai protest may be called off shows he understands the risk. To put it plainly, no political demand is worth a life. The fact that Mumbai Police denied permission adds another layer of tension, but the bigger concern right now is whether Jarange can safely continue at all.
For readers, the key takeaway is simple: this story is developing, and Jarange's health will decide what happens next. If he calls off the Mumbai protest, it will be a major shift in the Maratha quota movement. But if he pushes forward in this condition, the consequences could be severe. We believe the right call is to prioritise medical care immediately.
