Manoj Jarange to begin indefinite hunger strike in Mumbai on September 19 amid Ganeshotsav

Quota activist Manoj Jarange on Saturday announced that he and his supporters would start an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan in Mumbai from September 19 to demand reservation in jobs and education for the Maratha community news agency PTI reportedThe proposed protest comes at a particularly sensitive time for Mumbai with the city in the middle of the 12day Ganeshotsav festivities which will be celebrated from September 14 to 25With large numbers of devotees expected to travel across the city for Ganpati darshan and festivities Jarangersquos planned mobilisation could pose a major challenge for the city administration police and traffic authoritiesJarange to march towards Mumbai from September 15Speaking at a press conference in Antarwali Sarati Jarange who is on the 15th day of his hunger strike said that he would begin his march towards Mumbai on September 15The protesters marching towards Mumbai will halt in Patoda in Beed on September 15 Srigonda in Ahilyanagar district the next day Hadapsar in Pune district on September 17 and Khopoli in Raigad district on September 18They will then camp in Koparkhairane in Navi Mumbai before proceeding to Mumbai he saidJarange said the protesters would cover around 100 kilometres a day before reaching their designated halting pointsHe added that the indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai will begin at 10 am on September 19Protest planned during peak Ganeshotsav periodThe timing of the proposed agitation is likely to add to the challenges before Mumbai authorities as September 19 falls during the 12day Ganeshotsav celebrations The festival typically sees heavy movement of devotees processions and visitors to prominent Ganpati mandals across the cityThe administration will therefore have to manage the movement of Jarangersquos supporters alongside the heightened traffic crowd management and security arrangements already required for GaneshotsavWe have to continue the agitation peacefully until we return from Mumbai with reservation for our community No one should resort to stonepelting or arson Vehicles should be driven properly and everyone should follow the code of conduct We want to protest through democratic means and secure our rightful demand Jarange saidHe appealed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis not to create hurdles for the protestersFadnavis should not stop the Maratha community and I believe he will not do that If police try to stop us with barricades agitators should stop there and sit on the roads but should not touch the barricades They should find an alternative route and reach the agitation site Jarange saidIf protesters are stopped the responsibility for such action will lie with Fadnavis he addedJarange raises Kunbi records demandAccusing the state government of not implementing his gazetterelated demands and failing to issue caste certificates based on 58 lakh Kunbi records he said We will take this issue to Mumbai This is the final fight and not a single Maratha should remain at homeAmong Jaranges main demands is a Government Resolution GR allowing Marathas to claim reservation under the Kunbi category within the Other Backward Classes OBC quota based on old records and gazette documentsThe demand however is vehemently opposed by OBC groups who believe their share of reservation benefits could be affectedWomen urged to join after Mahalaxmi festivalJarange said women who wish to participate in the agitation should join after the Mahalaxmi festival by making peaceful visits to the residences of Amruta Fadnavis wife of CM Fadnavis and Lata Shinde the wife of Deputy CM Eknath ShindeThey should hold traditional haldikumkum programmes to convey their demand for reservation he saidPrevious Mumbai protest brought city to standstillJaranges hunger strike in Mumbai in AugustSeptember last year brought parts of the city including areas around the sprawling Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus CSMT to a standstillOn Friday the Bombay High Court refused to pass any urgent order on a petition seeking to stop his fresh protest in the state capital The court said every person has the right to protest and that no restraining order could be issued merely on the apprehension of law and order troubleWith the proposed agitation coinciding with Ganeshotsav authorities are likely to face the additional task of balancing protestrelated security and crowd management with the citys already heightened festive movementWith PTI inputs