The Bombay High Court has stayed the Maratha reservation protest planned by Manoj Jarange Patil to begin on August 29 at Azad Maidan in Mumbai. The court suggested providing an alternative site in Kharghar or Navi Mumbai.
Mumbai: Amidst preparations for the Maratha reservation agitation in Maharashtra, Manoj Jarange Patil has suffered a major setback from the Bombay High Court. The court has banned the protest at Azad Maidan in Mumbai and stated that the state government should allocate an alternative location in Kharghar or Navi Mumbai for Jarange.
The High Court took this step to prevent disruption to public life and traffic in Mumbai during the Ganesh festival. A bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne said that democracy and dissent go hand in hand, but protests should only take place at designated locations.
Protest Banned at Azad Maidan
The High Court clarified that Manoj Jarange cannot hold a demonstration at Azad Maidan without prior permission from the authorities. The court said that the state government can designate an alternative location in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, for peaceful protests, so that public life in Mumbai is not disrupted.
The court also stated that peaceful protests can only be carried out after obtaining permission under the new rules for public gatherings and movements.
Manoj Jarange Warned of Hunger Strike in Mumbai
Manoj Jarange Patil had said in a press conference in Jalna on Monday that he would start an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan in Mumbai from August 29. He warned that he would not leave Mumbai until his demands were met.
Jarange said, "Injustice to the Maratha community should stop. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is making wrong decisions against the Maratha community by listening to one person. We will return only after winning this fight. The people of the Maratha community are with us."
Preparations for Maratha Reservation Agitation
Maratha reservation activists have called for protests in Mumbai. Jarange had appealed to people to participate in the agitation in large numbers. With the Bombay High Court's stay, the agitation may now be limited to Navi Mumbai or Kharghar instead of Mumbai.
The court's directive is an attempt to find a balanced solution for both the Maharashtra government and the protesters, so that democratic rights and peace and order are both protected.
