Manoj Jarange-led Maratha yatra to enter Mumbai today

The Maratha morcha called by quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil reached the outskirts of Mumbai on Thursday evening. While the police have issued a notice against it, Jarange Patil said that he will march ahead as per his plan and protest at Azad Maidan on Friday, where volunteers prepared a stage for the demonstration.

Jarange Patil left Lonavala on Thursday afternoon after staying there for the night. The morcha travelled via the Old Mumbai-Pune highway on its way to Mumbai. The delegation from the state government, which was present in Lonavala to strike an agreement with the activist, failed to convince him.

Women supporters in Navi Mumbai were roped in to prepare bhakris and pulao for the travellers. Pic/Anurag Ahire

mid-day was at various locations in Navi Mumbai and Panvel where the rally was to pass from. According to the plan, the morcha was to halt at Vashi on Thursday night and make its way to Azad Maidan on Friday. By 6:30 pm on Thursday, the morcha was a little over an hour away from Panvel.

Large-scale preparations

For the activists travelling in vehicles and on foot, Maratha morcha volunteers in Navi Mumbai arranged food and water at various locations. Amol Shitole from Kamothe said, "We approached homemakers in Kamothe to prepare food for the travelling volunteers. We had asked them to prepare 25,000 bhakris and pulao. People, especially women, showed such a great response that we had almost 30,000 bhakris, and pulao for almost 25,000 people. Preparing the food packets was a tedious process but the women ensured that the task was done before the morcha reached. All sanitation measures were closely followed. People who packed the food were wearing gloves, they ensured that the containers were clean. We are eagerly waiting for Jarange Patil to enter Navi Mumbai."

Another volunteer from Kolkhe village in Panvel told mid-day, "We have arranged for adequate water for the travellers along with food including vegetables, rice, dal and roti. We are in full support of Jarange Patil and want our demands fulfilled at the earliest."

Scores arrive in vehicles

Maratha morcha members were seen entering Navi Mumbai in trucks, tempos, tractors, JCBs, road rollers, cars, auto rickshaws and bikes. A member travelling in a tempo said, "I am travelling with Jarange Patil from Kolgaon village in Georai taluka. We will be resting at Vashi for the night and moving to Mumbai for our protest. The government has to agree to our demands."

Maratha quota supporters prepared a stage at Azad Maidan for Friday's protest. Pic/Shadab Khan

The member added, "Thousands of people are travelling in vehicles and around 50,000 people are walking with Jarange Patil. These are excluding the number of people who will join us in Navi Mumbai and Mumbai." Another member travelling on a tractor said, "We will not stop till our demands are accepted. No one can stop us from entering Azad Maidan. We are fighting for our rights. Even the High Court said that they cannot stop us from holding a peaceful protest."

Morcha members in vehicles played songs on DJ systems and loudspeakers. Traditional instruments like dhol tasha and dholki were also played in some vehicles. Morcha members shouted slogans like ‘Ek Maratha Lakh Maratha' (one Maratha is equal to one lakh Marathas), ‘Jai Bhavani Jai Shivaji' and, ‘Aarakshan Aamchya Hakkacha, Naahi Konachya Baapacha' (It is for us to get the reservation as a right).

No nod for Jarange protest, say cops

The Azad Maidan police station has issued a notice to activist Jarange Patil, denying him permission to enter and fast at the protest site. The police also said the rally is not allowed to enter Mumbai as it lacks the capacity to hold such a large crowd of people and that there are other programmes scheduled at the ground. Despite not having permission, by Thursday evening, crowds cheering Jarange Patil had started gathering at Azad Maidan with the stage being set up and back-up of essentials including water bottles and other necessities lined up. "We are confident of the positive results of this massive rally," an activist said. The police too have deployed additional forces at Azad Maidan in addition to regular force. A host of police vehicles including water cannons and more platoons are deployed around Azad Maidan.