Huge crowds of Maratha quota supporters were seen reaching the CSMT, the closest railway station to the protest site at Azad Maidan. Pics/Ashish Raje, Aditi Alurkar and Satej Shinde
Waving saffron flags and chanting slogans in support of reservation for the Maratha community, protesters walked in groups in parts of south Mumbai
Despite light rains and traffic congestion in parts of south Mumbai, the number of participants kept growing
Several Maratha quota supporters were also seen gathering at Marine Drive promenade in south Mumbai
Meanwhile, as activist Manoj Jarange launched a hunger strike for Maratha reservation in Mumbai on Friday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the cabinet sub-committee on the issue was discussing his demands, and will find a solution within the constitutional framework
Jarange, who had been given the permission to stage his protest only for a day at the Azad Maidan, has sought a fresh permission to continue the protest in the city
The Maratha quota supporters had began reaching Mumbai from parts of Maharashtra even before Jarange reached Mumbai
Jarange launched his indefinite hunger strike on Friday morning as thousands of his supporters landed in south Mumbai, nearly crippling road traffic
The protest, though peaceful, caused traffic disruptions across Marine Drive, Churchgate, and CSMT, affecting office-goers and local commuters
Several of Manoj Jarange's supporters reached at Marine Drive before making their way to the protest site at Azad Maidan
Jarange has demanded that all Marathas to be recognised as Kunbis, an agrarian caste included in the OBC category, which will make them eligible for reservation in government jobs and education. But the existing OBC communities are opposed to this
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