Maratha quota protest: Mumbai police deny permission to Manoj Jarange for hunger strike in Azad Maidan

Manoj Jarange. File pic/PTI

Mumbai police on Thursday denied permission to Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil to hold his hunger strike in Mumbai. Jarange, who along with thousands of his supporters is on way to Maharashtra's capital city had sought permission for hunger strike in Mumbai's Azad Maidan.

The Mumbai police said that Azad Maidan only has a capacity of 5 to 6 thousand people and it would not be able to accommodate such a large gathering. Police suggested that Jarange should settle for International Corporate Park in Kharghar area of Navi Mumbai instead.

Jarange is spearheading agitation for reservation for the Maratha community in education and jobs. He set out for Mumbai from his village in Latur district on January 20 and on Thursday morning, January 25, reached Lonavala along with his supporters.

The police in its reply to Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange said that Mumbai is the economic capital of India and 60 to 65 lakh people commute to the city for work. The city also holds various national and international offices. "If the Maratha community protest rally enters Mumbai, the city's daily traffic will be affected."

A newswire report said that the notice was issued by the senior inspector of Azad Maidan Police Station under section 149 of the Code of Criminal Procedure which gives powers to police to take steps to prevent cognizable offences.

The notice, according to the report, said that Maratha Quota activist Manoj Jarange should adhere to directives passed by the Supreme Court and Bombay High Court from time to time regarding the conduct of agitations, and if the protesters failed to follow these directives, it will be considered a contempt of court.

Also read: Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange says won't return from Mumbai without reservation

Earlier in the day, when asked if he and his followers had got permission from the police to hold agitation at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, Jarange said a stage was being erected there, indicating that he had not changed his plans.

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole, in the meanwhile, said on Thursday that the Eknath Shinde government misled the Marathas on quota and that is why community members are marching to Mumbai.

"The fact that the Maratha community is coming to Mumbai is the biggest failure of the Shinde-BJP government. The Shinde-Fadnavis-Ajit Pawar government misled the Maratha community. Where are the two ministers who held discussions with Jarange hiding," Patole questioned.