23 March,2026 02:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Activist Deepak Borhade has been protesting Azad Maidan in south Mumbai. File Pic/Facebook
Hundreds gathered at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai on Monday as Dhangar activist Deepak Borhade continued his indefinite hunger strike for a week now.
Activist Deepak Borhade had last week travelled to Mumbai to launch an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan. The protest is aimed at demanding the inclusion of the Dhangar community in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category.
Borhade, in an interview to a news channel has called on community members, activists and his supporters from across the state and country to reach Azad Maidan in large numbers and join the protest.
He also appealed to his supporters to join him in his protest.
Speaking to the media earlier, Borhade had said that the community has been fighting for reservation for the past twelve years.
He had said that although several promises have been made by the government, the demand has not yet been fulfilled.
Borhade also said that he was invited to the Vidhan Bhavan for discussions during the ongoing Maharashtra Budget Session 2026 and during the meeting, he strongly raised the demand for the inclusion of the Dhangar community in the ST category before the Chief Minister.
He begin his hunger strike at Azad Maidan last week on Monday, March 16.
As days past, several activists and his supporters began gathering at Azad Maidan. Members of the Dhangar community were on Monday seen to gather in large numbers at Azad Maidan to extend support to Borhade.
Borhade had earlier ended a hunger strike in Jalna on September 17 last year after reportedly receiving assurances from the government.
In an interview to a news channel, he said, "those promises were not kept."
He also mentioned that on January 21, when he was preparing to travel to Mumbai for a similar protest, he was stopped by the police in Jalna. This time, he urged the authorities not to put any pressure or restrictions on the protest.
In January, Borhade had sought permission to organise a peaceful protest for the Dhangar reservation, but the court, refusing an urgent hearing.
