No Mumbai ground big enough for his protest, police tell Manoj Jarange

Mumbai: Mumbai Police on Thursday issued a notice to Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange, who along with his thousands of supporters is on the way to the Maharashtra capital, that no ground in the city can accommodate such a large gathering and he should hold his agitation in neighbouring Navi Mumbai instead.

While Jarange plans to launch his protest at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai from Friday, police suggested that he settle for International Corporate Park in Kharghar area of Navi Mumbai.

The notice was issued by the senior inspector of Azad Maidan Police Station under section 149 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which gives powers to police to take steps to prevent cognisable offences.

He should adhere to directives passed by the Supreme Court and Bombay High Court from time to time regarding the conduct of agitations, and if the protesters failed to follow these directives, it will be considered a contempt of court, the notice said. 

Jarange, who is spearheading the agitation for reservation for the Maratha community in education and jobs, set out for Mumbai from his village in Latur district on January 20. He reached Lonavala earlier in the day.

When asked if he and his followers had got permission from the police to hold agitation at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, he said a stage was being erected there, indicating that he had not changed his plans.