Jignesh Mevani's Kodak moment in anti-BJP Independence Day rally at Shivaji Park

As the tricolour flew high across the city and Mumbai woke up to a flurry of creative WhatsApp Independence Day messages a group of activists and ordinary citizens raised a rallying cry of tiranga uthao BJP Bhagao on Wednesday afternoonThey sought to justify the timing of their rally saying We are not party poopers we are patriotic protesters wanting to awaken the public to the perils of BJP rule they said as they gathered at the Shivaji statue at Shivaji ParkHate rulesRavi Bhilane organiser and part of the Lokanche Dost organization a civil society group said Lokanche Dost was founded in 1990 to awaken and enlighten people to various situations in the country at this very spot all those years ago Bhilane claimed the atmosphere today is fraught with hatred The Bhima Koregaon riots are one example of the deep fissures appearing in our nation under BJP rule he said when asked for an exampleWomen violenceFor Devashala Giri the trip from Badlapur to Shivaji Park was worth it even on a holiday to give voice to our opposition to the current rule For Giri it is the rising tide of violence against women restrictions of what people can eat and lynching that are top of the list of hate crimes in the current climate When told that violence against women can happen under another government too she said It is the investigation process that inspires no confidence Women feel they will not get justice and they are in fact more insecure than ever Giri also scoffed at PM Narendra Modis IDay speech where he said that Indian women were making the country proud overseas Why doesnt the PM talk about the violence against them at home she askedThe protesters slammed demonetization where nothing was achieved no answers are given and people lost their livelihood and the fact that supporters of the Unnao and Kathua rapists were carrying the tricolour was the biggest insult to our national flagNo fashionEven as Shivaji Park joggers there were many because of the holiday and relatively cool weather that the showers had brought about looked on startled loud cries rent the air about who the real antinationalists were the BJP Govt shouted the protesters When told that many believed that going against the government was merely a fashionable thing to do Giri replied angrily We are ordinary people we are concerned about lighting the gas and cooking food tomorrow we have no time for fashionbishanFor participant Firoze Mithiborwala We are not living in normal times Top media persons have themselves admitted that certain sections of the media seem to have been compromised and the top judiciary is under attack We have never before seen an India like this today the Re is 70 to the dollar and some supporters of this government claim it is goodJai Ho Foundation a nonprofit working for peace was represented by founder Afroz Malik who added that to be silent was to be complicit in the actions of this governmentMevani momentThe police kept order as protester Sanjay Shinde gave a speech urging the crowd to come together Five years have gone by and the murderers of Narendra Dhabolkar have still to be caught We need to speak out else what is the meaning of freedom As Shinde spoke poster boy Jignesh Mevani the antiModi Gujarat politician arrived The press went into a frenzy Mevani asked why so many farmers are committing suicides in India Why was the PM following those who had insulted and abused slain journalist Gauri Lankesh Why is he silent on lynching What about those who have lost their livelihood because of demonetisation Mevani was asked about PM Modis IDay speechHe did not disappoint with the same jhumla said the young man The protesters brushed off the small numbers saying they had pulled out the ace in their pack Jignesh MevaniCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates