Mumbai: Mumbai is getting ready for its biggest festival, but this year’s Ganesh Utsav could be accompanied by a different kind of noise. Several groups have announced plans to protest in the city, raising concerns over traffic, crowd management and law and order during the 10 day celebrations.
The biggest challenge for the authorities is the ongoing Maratha reservation agitation led by Manoj Jarange Patil. Jarange is on a hunger strike in Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district and has warned that he could head towards Mumbai with his supporters if his demands are not accepted by the Maharashtra government.
The warning has put the Mumbai Police on alert. Jarange’s supporters had earlier staged a major protest in Mumbai, with parts of South Mumbai witnessing serious disruption for nearly three days. Authorities are keen to avoid a repeat of that situation, particularly during the festival when large numbers of people are already expected on the city’s streets.
Ganesh Utsav begins on September 14, and Mumbai is expected to see huge crowds at popular Ganesh pandals, along with processions and increased movement across the city. Managing the festival crowds alone is a major task for the police. The possibility of large political and social gatherings at the same time could make the situation even more difficult.
Another group planning to march towards Mumbai is the Sakal Adivasi Vidyarthi Andolan. The coalition of tribal organisations has announced a march between September 15 and 20. The group is raising concerns over the safety of residential ashrams, hostel facilities, food quality and the functioning of officials.
The Dhangar community is also expected to hold protests over its demand for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe category. Dhangar groups have long argued for ST status instead of their present classification as a Nomadic Tribe.
Meanwhile, some OBC organisations had planned a protest in response to the Maratha agitation but have postponed their proposed demonstration for now.
For the Mumbai Police, the coming days will be a balancing act. They will have to keep festival crowds safe, manage traffic and processions and ensure that competing protests do not turn into a larger law and order problem.
For Mumbaikars, the hope is simple that the city’s streets remain focused on “Ganpati Bappa Morya” and that the political and social tensions do not overshadow the spirit of Ganesh Utsav.
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