Mumbai police deny Jarange Patil's march permission, high court move likely
On the 18th day of his fast, Manoj Jarange Patil is set to leave for Mumbai after police rejected permission for his Azad Maidan protest.
Today is the 18th day of Manoj Jarange Patil's fast over the demand for Maratha reservation. Jarange Patil is set to leave Antarwali Sarati for Mumbai around 11 am today, September 15, with a select group of supporters. Mumbai police had earlier denied permission for the agitation at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, after which Jarange's side has filed a fresh application.
The new application seeks permission for the agitation with only 50 people. It also states that all police rules and conditions for the protest will be followed, and that the agitation will be held at the time fixed for September 18. There is widespread attention on what decision the police take on this application by this afternoon. But it is being suggested that if the police do not decide, Manoj Jarange Patil may file an application in court in the afternoon.
After Mumbai police denied permission for the agitation at Azad Maidan for the second time, there is curiosity over what stance Jarange Patil takes next. He had earlier said that he alone would go to Mumbai for the fast and no one else would come with him. Mumbai police have denied permission citing legal and security reasons. But Jarange is sticking to his position of holding the agitation at Azad Maidan itself. He has indicated that he will move the high court if permission is not granted.
The reason the police denied permission has also come to light. During last year's Maratha agitation, around 5,000 vehicles were parked without permission in South Mumbai, badly disrupting traffic. This raised a law and order concern, the police have objected. Ganeshotsav also began in Mumbai from yesterday, September 14. Large crowds of devotees gather in the city during this period, so the situation is sensitive from a security standpoint, the police say.
Under the rules, a maximum of 5,000 agitators can be accommodated in the roughly 7,000 square metre area of Azad Maidan. But Manoj Jarange Patil has called for a large number of people to come to Mumbai, and the police have expressed concern over controlling the crowd. If a large number of agitators reach Mumbai, it is feared it could affect traffic in South Mumbai. This could also affect the functioning of hospitals such as G.T., Cama, St George's and Bombay Hospital in the area, as well as courts and financial centres, which is a concern for the administration. The entire state is now watching what decision Mumbai police take on Manoj Jarange Patil's new application, and what stance he takes at the high court if permission is not granted.
