Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Quota activist Manoj Jarange on Monday demanded that the Maharashtra government implement a GR issued last week for issuing Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas before September 17, or else he will take a “tough decision” again.

Jarange ended his five-day-old fast for quota in Mumbai on September 2 when the government announced forming a committee to issue Kunbi caste certificates to Maratha community members with historical evidence of their Kunbi heritage, a social group classified as an Other Backward Class (OBC) in the state.

The government made the announcement in a resolution and it followed hectic talks between state ministers and Jarange.

The Kunbi is a traditional farming community in the state and they have been included in the list of OBC category in Maharashtra in order to make them eligible for government reservations in jobs and education.

The government resolution (GR) issued by the social justice and special assistance department also mentioned about implementing the Hyderabad gazetteer.

“We expect that the government will ask the taluka level offices in the state to act upon the GR. We expect that the work should start before September 17. If not done, I will have to make tough decisions,” Jarange told reporters at a hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

He has been undergoing treatment at the hospital since he called off his agitation in Mumbai last week.

“The distribution of certificates should start based on the GR before September 17. I believe the government will act on it. If they listen to someone from Yeola (apparently referring to minister Chhagan Bhujbal) and anything goes wrong, we will also challenge the 1994 GR that gave our reservation to others,” Jarange said.

Bhujbal, an OBC leader, has been opposing reservation to Marathas under the Other Backward Classes category.

September 17 is observed as the Marathwada Liberation Day. It marks the anniversary of Marathwada’s integration with India and the annexation of Hyderabad state, which was under the rule of Nizam, into the Union of India.

Jarange also claimed some Maratha scholars, who claimed the GR will not help the community, have “gone crazy” and are not able to sleep because of the government order.

“The Maratha community in the state should be a little patient (about the GR),” the activist said.

“We will announce our policy further at the Dussehra rally at Narayangad in Beed. It (rally) will not be very big, but it will take place,” he said.

Notably, activist Vinod Patil, who has filed petitions in courts concerning the Maratha quota, last week called GR on granting Kunbi certificates to eligible community members “completely useless”.

The GR, issued after Jarange launched the agitation, will not benefit the community in any meaningful way, claimed Patil.

Mumbai: The immersion procession of Lalbaugcha Raja, one of Mumbai’s most iconic Ganesh idols, witnessed massive crowds on Anant Chaturdashi. Amid the heavy turnout, over 100 mobile phones and several gold chains were reported stolen, according to Mumbai Police.

The police have registered more than 100 complaints related to mobile thefts and chain snatching during the event. So far, they have recovered four mobile phones and two gold chains. Authorities also confirmed the arrest of four individuals and the detention of 12 others in connection with chain-snatching cases.

Taking advantage of the large crowds during the visarjan of the Lalbaugcha Raja 2025, the accused carried out thefts in different parts of the procession route. The Lalbaugcha Raja procession draws lakhs of devotees every year in Mumbai.

Yesterday, after a 28-hour journey, the immersion of Mumbai’s most beloved Ganesh idol, Lalbaugcha Raja, finally concluded late on Sunday night, following repeated efforts by organisers, civic officials, and local fishermen to overcome the challenges posed by the sea.

The grand procession began from the Lalbaug pandal on Saturday afternoon and, as per tradition, was expected to reach Girgaon Chowpatty by early Sunday morning. The idol arrived at the beach between 5:00 am and 7:00 am, but what was meant to be a seamless immersion quickly turned into a day-long wait.

The sea turned rough earlier than forecast. A high tide of 4.42 metres hit around 11:40 am, making it impossible to align the idol with the immersion raft. Repeated attempts by the Lalbaugcha Raja Mandal volunteers to move the idol onto the platform failed as the currents lifted the base and destabilised the structure.

Mumbai: Minister of State for Home Affairs Yogesh Kadam has expressed heartfelt gratitude towards the Mumbai Police for their dedicated service in ensuring the safety and security of devotees during the Ganesh festival.

Highlighting the significance of the festival, Kadam said that Ganeshotsav is marked by a surge of devotees, the beats of drums, the sound of aartis, and massive crowds during immersions. Despite such overwhelming gatherings, the police stand vigil day and night to safeguard devotees.

Recalling incidents of stampedes in different parts of the country in the past year, Kadam noted that even though lakhs of devotees gather in Mumbai every year for immersions, the festivities pass peacefully and securely. “The credit for this goes entirely to the discipline and dedicated efforts of the Mumbai Police,” he said.

“Working 12 to 16 hours continuously, standing for hours in the sun or rain, managing crowds and traffic, and patiently communicating with people while respecting their emotions — even in such challenging circumstances, the sense of duty reflected on the faces of police officers is truly commendable,” Kadam remarked.

He further stated that the spirit of service, patience, and dedication of the Mumbai Police guarantees peace and safety during the festival. Calling them the “unsung heroes in the crowd,” Kadam said their efforts ensure that Mumbaikars can celebrate the festival in a safe environment.

Appreciating the disciplined tradition of Maharashtra Police, the minister added, “The service-oriented approach and commitment of the Mumbai Police are the real strength of the state’s security system. I wholeheartedly salute their dedication and sense of duty.”