Mumbai Maratha reservation movement leader Manoj Jarange Patil has left for Mumbai from Antarwali Sarati on Tuesday to hold a hunger strike at Azad Maidan. Before leaving for Mumbai, Jarange visited the Hanuman temple located in Antarwali Sarati. During this time the women welcomed him. He greeted the supporters and local people by shaking hands.
Manoj Jarange told journalists today that the Maratha community is being continuously cheated. He said that he will not surrender before the government and his fight for the future of the children of Maratha society will continue. He said that the first stop of the Mumbai march will be at Patoda in Beed district. His supporters have demanded Mumbai Police to grant permission for their proposed fast unto death at Azad Maidan.
Supporters say that permission for the demonstration should not be denied in the name of Ganeshotsav. The protesters also made it clear that they will go to Mumbai even if permission is not granted. A supporter said that Jarange Patil will continue his fast, while people of the society will take Ganpati darshan in Mumbai and women will pray to Lord Ganesha for his good health.
In fact, Jarange had announced a fast and demonstration at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on 19 September. For this, permission application was given to Azad Maidan Police. The police rejected the application twice in the last two days. After this, permission has been applied for the third time, the decision on which is yet to be taken. The objections of the police are said to be mainly related to the gathering of a large number of people in Mumbai, law and order and crowd and security arrangements in the city during Ganeshotsav.
Tuesday is the 18th day of Jarange’s fast unto death. After not getting permission from Mumbai Police for the second time, he has stopped taking treatment and saline. This has increased the concern among his supporters regarding his health. He has said that if permission is not given to fast in Mumbai till noon, he will approach the High Court. However, even before the decision on permission could be taken, they have started their march to Mumbai.