Mumbai: Maratha Community Activists Gather at Azad Maidan; Preparations Underway Amidst Challenges

Mumbai, 26th January 2024: Activists from the Maratha community have commenced assembling at Azad Maidan since Thursday, anticipating a significant protest. Over two thousand workers have been mobilized to facilitate arrangements for the protestors who may join the demonstration.

Teams of workers from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad are diligently working to ensure the availability of food grains and meals for the protestors in case the agitation commences at Azad Maidan.

A detailed list of activists operating in Mumbai is already prepared, with Pawan Ufad, the coordinator of the Maratha community, indicating a rotational system to support the movement. “We are constructing a pavilion in Azad Maidan, and so far, there have been no hindrances from the police. This underscores its indirect significance,” mentioned Vipul Mane, another coordinator from the Maratha community.

“Mumbai, being the financial capital of the country, hosts numerous financial institutions, international consulates, and financial centers. The ongoing Maratha movement is anticipated to strain the city’s systems, as approximately 60 to 65 lakh citizens commute to Mumbai for work daily. Azad Maidan, allocated only 7000 square meters for the protest, has a capacity to accommodate only 5000 to 6000 protestors.

If a larger number of protestors converge, the limited space in the ground may pose a challenge. Additionally, other areas of the ground fall under the jurisdiction of the sports department, which has not granted permission for protests”, the Azad Maidan police have warned that protesting without permission will be considered contempt of court.

Activists from various regions have joined the gathering, each expressing unique hopes and concerns. Navnath Shidi from Nanded, Dhananjay Kanhere from Sambhajinagar Gevrai with his teacher wife Kavita Kanhere, and Akshay Gaatpatil and Komal Gaatpatil with their young children are among those present, all hopeful that the movement will bring positive change for their community through reservations.

Despite last-minute notifications from the police, organizers, including Virendra Pawar, Coordinator of the Maratha Movement, express their commitment to peaceful protests at Azad Maidan, emphasizing the importance of their cause. The situation remains dynamic, with the unfolding events shaping the trajectory of the Maratha community’s movement.