Activist Manoj Jarange had reached Mumbai with thousands of supporters to demand Maratha reservation, but due to the skill and smart preparation of the Mumbai Police, this five-day long protest was handled peacefully. This protest took place at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, which is near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and BMC Bhavan. The situation never got completely out of control during the protest.
People from all over the state reached Mumbai to support
Jarange started a hunger strike on August 29, which he ended on Tuesday afternoon, when the state government accepted most of the demands. With Jarange's fast, people from all over the state reached Mumbai to support him. Crowds of protesters were seen at the main intersections of South Mumbai, causing traffic jams in the morning. Some people were seen sleeping on mats on the platform in the CSMT premises itself. Before the protest, the Mumbai Police held meetings with Jarange's team and made a strategy. Police deployed more than 1,500 personnel at Azad Maidan. Also, one unit each of CRPF, CISF, RAF, SRPF, riot control police, and Maharashtra security force was deployed.
The protesters were not ready to leave Azad Maidan
The police had given permission for a one-day demonstration on August 29 and allowed only five thousand people to gather. But as soon as the movement started, more than 60 thousand people reached Mumbai in 8,000 vehicles, due to which all the roads leading to Azad Maidan were blocked. The police used CCTV and drones to monitor the crowd. The protesters were not ready to leave Azad Maidan until their demands were met. Some people were seen cooking, playing, and dancing on the streets.
The jam was removed only after a video call to Jarange
It happened many times that the protesters blocked the road and did not leave even after the police officers asked them to. But when Deputy Commissioner of Police Praveen Munde made a video call to Jarange, and he himself asked the supporters to cooperate, then the protesters moved away. In five days, many protest groups reached Mantralaya, Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), Marine Drive, Jahangir Art Gallery, Girgaon Chowpatty and Gateway of India. However, the police kept everyone under control with restraint. CSMT station also became like a temporary camp, where hundreds of protesters were staying. Railway police also tightened security arrangements on this.
The High Court ordered to vacating of all the roads
On Monday, the Bombay High Court remarked that Mumbai has come to a standstill due to the Maratha movement, and the agitators have violated the set conditions. The High Court ordered Zarange and the protesters to vacate all the roads by 3 pm on Tuesday. The High Court had warned that if the protest site was not vacated by 3 pm, action would be taken. Along with this, the government and the police were also directed to take action against Zarange and his supporters for violating the conditions of the movement.
The Joint Police Commissioner praised the policemen
After this, the Mumbai Police refused to allow the extension of the movement and asked the agitators to vacate Azad Maidan soon. As the time drew near on Tuesday, senior officers were seen appealing to the protesters to remove their vehicles. When the crowd finally dispersed and the entire Azad Maidan was empty, Joint Commissioner of Police Satya Narayan Chaudhary arrived at the spot and praised the policemen. He said, "You all did a great job, handled the situation very well. I am proud of all of you." Another senior police officer told PTI, "Despite such a large number of protesters gathering together, the situation never went out of control. The police handled the situation in a very controlled manner, due to which there was no clash." The government has accepted six of Jarange's eight demands, while two demands remain unfulfilled.
Manoj Jarange's eight major demands
- Kunbi certificate (Sage-Soyre Kunbi Certificate) should be made easily available to all Maratha community people.
- Hyderabad, Satara, and Aundh gazettes should be implemented immediately.
- All criminal cases registered against activists associated with the Maratha movement should be withdrawn.
- Immediate financial help and government jobs should be given to the families of those who lost their lives in the movement.
- More than 58 lakh Kunbi Nondis should be made public at the Gram Panchayat level, so that the identity of the Maratha society is clear.
- Vanshwali (Shinde) committee should be given an independent office and extra time.
- The government should issue an official order (GR) of Maratha-Kunbi Ek.
- The verification and recognition process of the Sage-Soyre certificate should be started immediately.
Six demands accepted by the government
It was decided to implement the Hyderabad Gazette.
The process of implementing the Satara and Aundh Gazette has started, legal problems will be resolved in 15 days.
Assurance to withdraw all cases registered against the agitators.
Rs 15 crore financial help and a job as per qualification to the families of those killed during the movement.
58 lakh Kunbi Nondis will be made public at the Panchayat level.
Vanshwali (Shinde) committee will get office and tenure extension.
2 demands remain unfulfilled
- GR for Maratha-Kunbi is still in process, but not implemented.
- The process of verification of the Sage-Soyre certificate has started, but the final decision is pending.
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