Police deny permission for Jarange-Patil’s protest in Mumbai; activist insists on protesting at Azad Maidan

In spite of the police suggestion that Mr. Jarange-Patil use the International Corporate Park in Kharghar for his protest, the activist plans to stage it at South Mumbai’s Azad Maidan

As pro-Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil and his thousands of supporters headed towards the State capital, the Mumbai police issued a notice on Thursday, directing him to relocate his agitation from the city to Navi Mumbai due to the impracticality of accommodating such a large gathering in Mumbai.

“No ground in the city can accommodate such a large gathering and we suggest you should hold the agitation in neighbouring Navi Mumbai instead,” the police told the 41-year-old activist.

Mr. Jarange-Patil’s march which began on January 20 from Jalna district demanding Maratha quota under the OBC classification in jobs and education, reached Lonavala in the wee hours of Thursday and continued towards Mumbai in the afternoon.

Despite police suggesting to use the International Corporate Park in Kharghar for the protest, the activist plans to stage it at South Mumbai’s Azad Maidan. “A stage is being erected at Azad Maidan,” he said indicating that he had not changed his plans.

The notice issued by the senior inspector of Azad Maidan Police Station under section 149 of the Code of Criminal Procedure gives powers to police to take steps to prevent cognisable offences.

It said Mr. Jarange-Patil should adhere to directives passed by the Supreme Court and Bombay High Court from time to time regarding the conduct of agitations, earning contempt if not followed. “If the protesters fail to follow these directives, it will be considered contempt of court,” the notice said.

Mr. Jarange-Patil appealed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies - Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar - to address the Maratha quota issue. Despite previous meetings with official delegations yielding no progress, the activist insists on pursuing his protest, even announcing an indefinite hunger strike in Mumbai from January 26 if the government fails to grant Maratha reservation.