Mumbai police reject Jarange Patil's fast plea at Azad Maidan again
Police deny permission for Manoj Jarange Patil's hunger strike at Azad Maidan for a second time, citing law and order and traffic concerns
Manoj Jarange Patil, who was preparing to sit on an indefinite hunger strike at Mumbai's Azad Maidan to press pending demands of the Maratha community and push the government to implement its promises, has suffered another setback from Mumbai police. On Sunday, Azad Maidan police had rejected the first application filed by Jarange's team, after which a fresh application seeking permission for the agitation was filed. But Mumbai police refused permission for the fast at Azad Maidan a second time as well.
Police have also issued a letter stating that Jarange could be given permission for the fast at a location other than Azad Maidan once the Ganeshotsav festivities are over. This has left the entire state watching to see what stance Jarange Patil takes next.
Jarange Patil had announced that he would begin an indefinite hunger strike at Mumbai's historic Azad Maidan from September 19. For this, he had also announced a march from Antarwali Sarati to Mumbai starting September 15. But with police refusing permission twice in a row, uncertainty has arisen over both his Mumbai march and the hunger strike scheduled to begin on September 19.
Mumbai police say they have denied permission for Azad Maidan citing law and order concerns and potential traffic problems. During last year's agitation, around five thousand vehicles had parked without permission in south Mumbai, completely disrupting traffic and creating law and order problems.
Ganeshotsav has begun in Mumbai from today, September 14. Police say the city sees a huge gathering of devotees during this period, making the security situation sensitive.
According to police, the roughly 7,000 square metre area of Azad Maidan can accommodate only a limited number of protesters as per rules. But Jarange Patil has called on large numbers of people to come to Mumbai. Police say that if lakhs of protesters reach Mumbai, it could affect the everyday functioning of hospitals, courts and economic centres in south Mumbai.
Meanwhile, despite being denied permission for the fast at Azad Maidan, Manoj Jarange Patil has made clear that he is sticking to his stand. He has said he will go to Mumbai alone and that no one else will accompany him.
With Mumbai police denying permission for a second consecutive time, all eyes are now on whether Jarange Patil will hold the fast at another location instead of Azad Maidan, or stick to his stand and head to Mumbai anyway, or approach the High Court seeking permission.
