Maratha quota stir: Days after cops deny him protest permission, defiant Jarange leaves for Mumbai

Mumbai: Maratha reservation advocate Manoj Jarange-Patil is scheduled to travel to Mumbai on Tuesday, September 15, despite his hunger strike at Azad Maidan now entering its 18th day. Having submitted a second application for permission to protest at the location, Jarange received yet another rejection from the Mumbai Police on Sunday.

In response, Jarange's team now seeks court intervention if police deny permission for a smaller protest involving 50 participants. The police have cited legal and security concerns, including last year's Maratha protest which involved around 5,000 unauthorized vehicles, causing significant traffic congestion and safety issues. Furthermore, the timing of the protest coincides with Ganeshotsav, a major festival in Mumbai with thousands of devotees.

The limited capacity of Azad Maidan, with only 7,000 square meters available, has also raised concerns for authorities. The proposed protest could disrupt traffic and strain essential services in the region, including hospitals and courts. Despite submitting a fresh application requesting permission for just 50 protesters, all attention is now on whether the Mumbai Police will reconsider or if the matter will escalate to the Bombay High Court.