Manoj Jarange heads to Mumbai despite police denial for quota protest

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange left for Mumbai on Tuesday morning despite the police refusing permission for his protest at Azad Maidan. Jarange, who has been on a hunger strike for the past 17 days, is demanding OBC reservation for Maratha community members with Kunbi caste genealogies.

Mumbai Police had denied permission for the protest, citing law and order concerns during the ongoing Ganesh festival. However, Jarange went ahead with his journey after changing his earlier plan to mobilise large numbers of Maratha supporters from across Maharashtra, deciding instead to travel with a select group of 5-10 associates amid heavy security.

Jarange left from Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district. Frail and slumped in the front seat of a car, and dressed in his trademark white shirt and trousers, he referred to the Bombay High Court ruling that had refused to restrain him from holding a protest in Mumbai.

"Nothing is more important for me than my community. I will die for my community or get a reservation for them. The court has said that if anyone is agitating democratically, it cannot be stopped. The judiciary is with us," he told reporters.

He also repeated his allegation that there was a conspiracy to kill him. "Does (Chief Minister) Devendra Fadnavis want to kill me with bullets? I am coming alone. They have chalked a plan to kill me. No matter even if they kill me, I will not let betrayal take place to the Maratha community," Jarange said.

Fadnavis and other ministers in the state cabinet have repeatedly urged Jarange to withdraw his fast, saying the government is open to talks and will accept demands that are legally valid.

Earlier in the day, Jarange underwent a health check-up, paid obeisance to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and visited two temples in the village. His convoy, which includes two SUVs and two ambulances, is scheduled to pass through Patoda in Beed, Srigonda in Ahilyanagar, Hadapsar in Pune and Khopoli in Raigad district before reaching Azad Maidan in Mumbai on September 19.

Police have put in place tight security along the Antarwali Sarati-Shahagad route. Officials said the deployment includes three sub-divisional police officers, 10 inspectors, 30 assistant and sub-inspectors, 300 police personnel, 265 home guards and two platoons of the Rapid City Police, taking the total to 648 personnel.

Security has also been strengthened at sensitive points, and Jarange has been given additional protection by personnel from the Additional Special Protection Unit of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar along with two bodyguards from Jalna police.

Jalna DYSP Siddheshwar Dhumal said, "We are managing traffic here along with the local police and highway police. Even if the number of vehicles in Jarange's convoy increases, we will manage".