Massive Convoy from Marathwada Heads to Mumbai in Tiranga Samvidhan Rally, Causing Major Traffic Jams

Mumbai, 24th September 2024: A large group from the Muslim community, led by former MP Imtiaz Jaleel of AIMIM, alongside other political and social organizations, set off from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Monday afternoon in hundreds of vehicles, heading towards Mumbai. Their destination was the Mulund toll plaza, where they arrived by late evening, intending to press for action against BJP MLA Nitesh Rane and preacher Ramgiri Maharaj, both facing hate speech charges.

Although the crowd, numbering over 12,000, gathered at the toll plaza, they left peacefully after handing over a written representation to the divisional collector and other officials late Monday night. This protest dubbed the ‘Tiranga Samvidhan Rally,’ originated in Sambhajinagar, with vehicles from various parts of Marathwada converging there. The convoy then proceeded towards Mumbai via the Samruddhi Super Expressway, causing significant traffic disruptions. According to the police, this marked the first instance of a protest rally creating a traffic jam on the expressway.

Jaleel’s demands centred on the arrest of Ramgiri Maharaj and Nitesh Rane for their alleged inflammatory statements. He also intended to present copies of the Constitution to members of the ruling Mahayuti coalition and senior police officers. However, the Mumbai police stated that Jaleel had not received permission to enter the city, leading to barricades being placed at the Mulund toll plaza, a crucial access point to Mumbai. A heavy police presence was deployed, with over 3,000 officers stationed and traffic being rerouted.

Joint Commissioner of Police Satyanarayan Choudhary, who oversaw the situation, confirmed that the crowd dispersed peacefully after submitting their letter to government representatives. Approximately 2,000 vehicles participated in the protest, including activists from Dalit and Maratha communities who joined the march.

The first signs of traffic congestion emerged on the expressway as the vehicles entered through Harsul Sawangi junction in Sambhajinagar. Similar issues occurred at various points along the route, as private buses and mini-trucks joined the rally. The protest reached the Mulund toll plaza, where police had blocked entry into Mumbai. In addition to local authorities, teams from the Sambhajinagar police and the state intelligence department monitored the rally for security reasons.

Mumbai police had planned to stop the convoy at Mulund toll plaza and direct them to return. Jaleel explained their mission en route to Mumbai: “We are heading to Mumbai to present our concerns to the chief minister and deputy chief minister, who is also in charge of the home department. It is their responsibility to ensure the rule of law prevails. Our protest is against the state’s failure to act on the hate speech cases involving Ramgiri Maharaj and Nitesh Rane, who have been booked in multiple FIRs for inciting communal tensions.”