Mumbai Police Braces for Potential Clash as Maratha and OBC Organizations Plan Protests on January 20

Mumbai, 29th December 2023: The Mumbai Police is navigating a challenging situation as both Maratha and OBC organizations are vying to conduct protest meetings in the city on January 20. OBC Jan Morcha president, Prakash Shendge, has applied for police permission to hold a rally at Azad Maidan, originally planned for Maratha leader Manoj Jarange Patil’s indefinite fast.

The complexity arises from the fact that Shendge’s organization vehemently opposes including Marathas in the OBC quota. Conversely, leaders of the Maratha Kranti Morcha are actively seeking a venue for Jarange Patil’s fast and have short-listed Azad Maidan, Shivaji Park, and BKC ground. The police are on high alert, anticipating a potential law and order crisis as both groups intend to turn Mumbai into their battleground.

At the same time, the BJP is expressing concern that these caste-based agitations may divert attention from the grand inauguration of the Bhagwan Ram temple in Ayodhya scheduled for January 22. The confluence of these events presents a significant challenge for law enforcement, requiring careful management to maintain peace and prevent potential clashes between the two communities.