Mumbai Police deny permission for Manoj Jarange Patil’s hungerstrike

The Mumbai Police have refused to grant permission for Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil to commence an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan on September 19. The decision stems from concerns over managing large crowds, ensuring public safety, cutting short traffic flow, and the imminent Ganesh festival. Despite this, Patil is determined to proceed with the protest.

"We have decided to protest democratically on September 19. We will depart from Antarwali-Sarati on September 15 and will launch a peaceful indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan in Mumbai," he stated. Patil has been fasting for 16 days at Antarwali-Sarati in Jalna district, refusing medical intervention, including intravenous fluids.

Police have cited the Maharashtra Government's 2025 rules governing public gatherings, protests, and agitations to reject Patil's request. These rules stipulate that permission for an agitation can only be granted for a single day at a time, with restrictions on its duration and location. The guidelines further state that an agitation can accommodate up to 5,000 protesters at Azad Maidan, and organizers must adhere to conditions regarding vehicles, traffic flow, and public safety.

Unsanctioned marches or obstructing public spaces are strictly prohibited. The police contend that Patil's proposed hunger strike contravenes several of these stipulations. In a five-page letter to Patil, the Azad Maidan police department expressed apprehension about the large influx of devotees during the Ganesh festival, which they consider a recurring target for anti-social elements.

They highlighted the extensive security protocols, surveillance, and specialized crowd-management measures already in place across major areas of the city during the festival period. Patil, however, suspects a conspiracy aimed at disrupting his march and possibly targeting his life. He claimed that elements within the ruling party might infiltrate the rally to incite violence and that there is a plot to shoot him during the protest, not out of a desire to kill Marathas but to eliminate him.