RPI protests throw Parel traffic off gear

About 80 supporters of the party agitated against the government, alleging that it had gone back on its promise of handing over a 12.5-acre plot of Indu mills to the outfit

About 80 supporters of the party agitated against the government, alleging that it had gone back on its promise of handing over a 12.5-acre plot of Indu mills to the outfit

Over 80 loyalists of the Republican Party of India, Youth Republican blocked the busy Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar road at the junction opposite BMC F (South) ward office in Parel yesterday, bringing traffic in the vicinity to a screeching halt for as long as 20 minutes.

The RPI activists congregated at the junction opposite BMC F (South) ward office in Parel between 1 and 1.30 pm, and blocked the road. The cops intervened soon, apprehended some of the protesters and took them away in their vans, after which the gathering dispersed

They were protesting the Centre's decision to grant them only 4 acres of land for an Ambedkar memorial, instead of the 12.5 acres promised earlier.

The activists congregated at the junction between 1 and 1.30 pm, and blocked the road. Cops intervened soon, apprehended some of the protestors and took them away in their vans, after which the gathering dispersed.

Anandraj Ambedkar, a member of the Republican Sena, said, "We will continue with our agitation till the
government allots the entire 12.5 acre plot of the Indu mill to us. This is our primary demand."

Bhai Sawant, another leader of the Republican Sena, said, "We'll follow the method of slow protest, and refrain from creating chaos. The Central as well as the State government is trying to cheat us.

As per my knowledge, the plot is owned by the Central government, which had agreed to hand it over to us.
But now they have gone back on their promise, and are ready to give us a share of only four acres. We will continue to protest until the government fulfills our demands."

Expecting more such protests in the near future, police officials have tightened security in various areas across the city.