Mumbai Police Order Maratha Quota Leader to Clear Azad Maidan Protest

Mumbai: The Mumbai Police have issued a formal notice to Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil, directing him to vacate Azad Maidan, where he and thousands of supporters have been staging a protest for four days. The notice, served on Tuesday, also demands an explanation from Jarange regarding multiple alleged violations by his supporters, including traffic disruptions, damage to public property, and unauthorized activities at the protest site, according to police statements.

The directive follows a Bombay High Court ruling on Monday, which criticized the Maratha quota agitation for its lack of peacefulness and for violating imposed conditions. The court noted that the protest, attended by an estimated 35,000 to 45,000 people, has paralyzed South Mumbai, causing severe traffic congestion and disrupting daily life. The High Court ordered Jarange and his organizers to clear all areas except Azad Maidan by noon on Tuesday to restore normalcy, especially with the ongoing Ganpati festival.

Jarange, who intensified his indefinite hunger strike by vowing to stop drinking water, has been demanding a 10% reservation for the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. Despite negotiations with a Maharashtra Cabinet sub-committee, no resolution has been reached, prompting Jarange to escalate his protest. The court emphasized that the agitation has breached permissions and lacks valid authorization to continue.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been working to clean Azad Maidan, deploying mechanical equipment and workers to manage waste and restore the area. Mumbai Police have increased security with Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel to manage crowds, while traffic diversions remain in place across South Mumbai, affecting key roads like Marine Drive and P D’Mello Road.