Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS shorten October 4 protest route after Mumbai Police request

Shiv Sena UBT and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS have shortened the route of their joint protest against the Election Commission on October 4 following a request from the Mumbai Police a party leader said on FridayRevised route from Metro Cinema to BMC headquartersShiv Sena UBT leader Anil Parab said the parties had agreed to alter the route and decided on a revised march from Metro Cinema to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC headquarters PTI reportedThe decision came after Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti highlighted potential bottlenecks and safety risks along the original route which included the Byculla flyoverUddhav Thackerayled Shiv Sena UBT and Raj Thackerayled MNS had earlier announced a march from Byculla to the BMC headquartersParties agree to police requestAddressing a news conference alongside MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar Parab said the original route involved crossing a flyover at Byculla where dividers are around 35 to 4 feet high PTI reportedHe said the parties agreed to change the route after the Mumbai Police commissioner raised concerns about the possibility of an untoward incident and limited space for people to move to safetyParab said the decision was taken after discussions with the respective party chiefs adding that the parties had honoured the police commissioners requestMorcha timing remains unchangedThe timing of the morcha will remain unchanged at 10 am on October 4The Thackeray cousins had announced the joint march against the Election Commission and appealed to supporters and the public to carry only the Tricolour instead of individual party flagsCJP protest at Mumbais Shivaji Park against EC SIR amid heavy police deploymentMeanwhile activists of the Cockroach Janata Party CJP and other civil society organisations staged a protest at Mumbairsquos Shivaji Park on Friday against the Election Commission and what they alleged were irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision SIR process ANI reportedThe CJP had announced the protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh KumarHeavy police deployment at Shivaji ParkHeavy police deployment was seen at Shivaji Park in view of the protest The Mumbai Police had denied permission for the demonstration citing restrictions governing the use of the ground and concerns related to traffic noise and public gatheringsCJP spokesperson Saurav Das while addressing the gathering alleged that CEC Gyanesh Kumar had acted against the interests of the country and called for his removal He appealed to people across Mumbai to join the protestldquoAs you can see we are starting from Mumbai today This is going to be a very big protest Mumbai showed last time what the spirit of Mumbai is The youth of the whole country the young generation everyone came out last time for the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan And this time too it is going to be the same with Gyanesh Kumarrdquo Das said ANI reportedShivaji Park residents raise concernsMeanwhile some residents of the Shivaji Park area objected to the venue being used for the protest citing inconvenience to local residentsResident Sunil Bhagwat said people regularly visit the park for walks and alleged that frequent protests at the venue were creating difficulties for residentsldquoWe come here for walks in this park but many protests have been happening here recently Who is responsible for the troubles being caused to the common people Did the Constitution not explain your duties towards the rest of the people Who is responsible for the problems the common man here facesrdquo he said ANI reportedAnother resident Ravindra referred to an earlier protest at the venue and alleged that a large crowd had extended up to Dadar station He also alleged that bottles of liquor had been thrown during the earlier gatheringHe further raised concerns about traffic disruption particularly because of schools and a hospital located near the protest siteldquoThere are two schools and a hospital here Cars couldnrsquot pass through around 5 pm school was getting over and the school kids were stuck in their vehicles anywayrdquo he saidWith ANI and PTI inputs