Maratha quota activist defies Mumbai Police, marches in Mumbai for hunger strike

Maratha quota activist defies Mumbai Police, marches in Mumbai for hunger strike

In a push for reservation for his community, Maratha quota leader Manoj Jarange on Friday reached Navi Mumbai with thousands of supporters. Jarange and other Maratha activists reached the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) on the outskirts of Mumbai around 5 am by bikes, cars, jeeps, tempos and trucks.

In the city, Jarange, along with his other supporters, will begin a hunger strike at Azad Maidan, to press for the demand for Kunbi (OBC) status for the Maratha community.

On Thursday, Jarange announced that he would reach the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai on January 26 (today).

This came despite a notice by the Mumbai Police, denying Jarange permission to hold the hunger strike.

In a notice issued under section 149 of the Criminal Procedure Code that enables the police to prevent cognisable offences, the police said, “Mumbai is the financial capital of the country and various financial institutions, international advocacy and other financial centers are working in Mumbai. Approximately 60 to 65 lakh citizens travel by train and other means of transport for jobs in Mumbai every day. If the Maratha protestors reach the city in their vehicles, it will have an adverse effect and the everyday transport system in the city will collapse.”

The Mumbai police suggested that the protestors could gather at the International Corporation Park Ground at Kharghar in Navi Mumbai after seeking permission from the authority concerned. Police said that if the morcha did not adhere to the notice, they would be held in contempt of orders of the High Court and Supreme Court.

While refusing permission for the crowd to assemble at the Shivaji Park ground in Dadar, the police said that since January 26 is Republic Day, the government program of flag hoisting will be held at Shivaji Park and there was a possibility it will be disturbed due to the agitation.

The notice added that the Shivaji Park ground could not accommodate such a large number of visitors.

The police mentioned that as per the Bombay High Court writ petition in the case, the Court directed the police to ensure the protest did not cause any disturbance to the public in Mumbai.

While Jarange remained firm on marching towards Mumbai despite the police notice, he said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar should personally come forward for a discussion to solve the issue.

A delegation, led by senior government officials, including the divisional commissioner of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, had met Jarange to convince him not to go to Mumbai.