Mumbai police disallow Maratha quota activist Jarange-Patil’s hunger strike, cite inconvenience to public

Mumbai police disallow Maratha quota activist Jarange-Patil’s hunger strike, cite inconvenience to public

The Mumbai police on Thursday denied Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil permission to hold a hunger strike in the city, even as he was to begin his protest at Azad Maidan on Friday. He and his supporters have reached Navi Mumbai as part of their Maratha Arakshan Morcha.

In a notice issued under section 149 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which enables 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 centres 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.”

It further stated, “As per the high court, only 7000 square metre area of Azad Maidan has been reserved for protest and its capacity is to accommodate 5,000 to 6,000 protestors, but if a large number of protestors come there, there will not be enough space for them to stop and there are no facilities to that extent. The rest of the ground comes under the school education and sports department, which too has rejected permission to hold the rally.”

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 programme of flag hoisting would be held there and that the agitation could possibly disturb it. Also, the Shivaji Park ground does not have the capacity to accommodate such a large number of visitors, the notice read.

The notice mentioned that the Bombay High Court had directed the police to ensure that the protest would not cause any disturbance or inconvenience to the public in Mumbai. “As, we have announced that lakhs of protesters will come to Mumbai with vehicles, there is a high possibility of disrupting daily life in Mumbai and creating a law and order problem. Also, given Mumbai’s geographical position, population, number of visitors, narrow roads, non-available alternative roads, crumbling medical facilities, the resulting influx of patients and the impact on other essential services, the overall public order in Mumbai will be adversely affected,” the notice read.

The police suggested the protesters could gather at the International Corporation Park ground at Kharghar in Navi Mumbai after seeking permission from the authority concerned. If the rally does not adhere to the notice, the protesters will be held in contempt of orders of the high court and Supreme Court, according to the document signed by Azad Maidan Senior Inspector Nitin Tadakhe.

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