Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Wednesday claimed 54 lakh records have been found in Maharashtra so far identifying members of the Maratha community as Kunbi (OBC sub-caste) and demanded immediate issuance of caste certificates. Jarange set out on a march towards Mumbai from Jalna district on January 20 with thousands of supporters, demanding that the state government grant quota to Marathas under the OBC grouping in jobs and education.

The morcha comprising several vehicles is passing through Pune city on Wednesday on the way to Mumbai, where it will culminate on January 26. Pune police diverted road traffic and made elaborate security arrangements. Jarange had announced the launch of an indefinite hunger strike in Mumbai from January 26 if the state government failed to grant the reservation to Marathas in government jobs and education.