Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil, whose hunger strike at Azad Maidan entered its fifth day on Tuesday, declared that he would not leave the protest site despite Mumbai Police denying permission to continue the agitation.
Patil, addressing his supporters, issued a stern warning to the Maharashtra government and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, saying, “Even if I die, I will not rise from this free ground. You may remain silent, but you will not be able to withstand the public outcry that is coming.”
Police ordered protesters to vacate Azad Maidan, citing violations of the conditions imposed by the Bombay High Court, which had earlier permitted the agitation with restrictions. Authorities also moved to block fresh inflow of protesters into Mumbai.
Patil, however, stood firm, calling the government’s attempts to remove protesters “costly.” He maintained that the agitation was peaceful and lawful. “We believe in the God of Justice and are 100 percent confident we will get justice. Our protest is democratic and within the law,” he said, adding that protesters had cleared traffic by removing vehicles from roads in compliance with court directives.
He reiterated that the Maratha community would not leave Mumbai until their key demand — implementation of the Hyderabad Gazette for 10% OBC reservation in jobs and education — is met.
Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court came down heavily on protesters for bringing the city to a standstill, particularly with the Ganpati festival approaching. The court observed that agitators had prima facie violated permission terms and directed the state government to restore normalcy, vacate occupied streets, and ensure adequate medical aid for Patil and his supporters.
Thousands of Marathas have thronged Azad Maidan to back Patil’s indefinite fast, adding pressure on the Mahayuti government, which has already formed a 10-member ministerial panel led by Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil to negotiate with stakeholders.
The agitation has drawn political reactions, with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) extending support while the BJP-led state government accused the opposition of politicising the issue.
