Maratha quota protest intensifies, protesters block road in south Mumbai

The Maratha reservation protest in Maharashtra has intensified on its fourth day, with demonstrators blocking roads in South Mumbai and causing significant traffic disruptions. Activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who is leading the protest from Azad Maidan, has escalated his hunger strike by vowing to refuse water. The central demand of the protestors is for "10% reservation in the OBC category". In response, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra is conducting high-level meetings with cabinet ministers and legal experts to find a solution to the long-standing quota issue, which faces legal challenges from the Supreme Court. The government is reportedly drafting a new government resolution to present to Patil in an effort to convince him to end his fast-unto-death protest and resolve the escalating situation in Mumbai.