By | Arvind Jadhav
Mumbai : The standoff over the Maratha quota agitation in Mumbai intensified on Tuesday as the Mumbai Police served a formal notice to protest leader Manoj Jarange-Patil and his core committee, asking them to vacate Azad Maidan.
Jarange-Patil has been on an indefinite hunger strike at the venue for the past five days, demanding reservation for the Maratha community under the OBC quota. Initially, police had granted permission for the sit-in with strict conditions, including limits on the number of participants and adherence to law and order norms.
However, after the Bombay High Court observed on Monday that the protests had spilled over onto South Mumbai’s roads and severely disrupted daily life, the court directed authorities to ensure the streets were cleared by September 2. Following this, Mumbai Police cited breaches of the original terms—including a massive surge in protester numbers—and issued the evacuation notice to Jarange’s team.
Despite the court’s order and the police action, Jarange-Patil has remained defiant, telling supporters he would not abandon the protest easily. At the same time, he appealed to followers to maintain peace and respect the court’s directions.
Meanwhile, the agitation has triggered a strong reaction from OBC organisations across Maharashtra. They have insisted that any decision on Maratha reservation must not disturb the existing 27% OBC quota. Some groups have already launched hunger strikes in Nagpur, while others have announced plans for a statewide morcha towards Mumbai in the coming days.
With the High Court deadline in force and growing political pressure, all eyes are now on whether Jarange-Patil will continue his protest or heed the evacuation order, as the state government reiterates its willingness for dialogue within legal boundaries.
