Maratha quota stir: Jarange-Patil to give up water, activists throng Azad Maidan

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil escalated his fast by giving up water, drawing thousands to Azad Maidan. Heavy traffic disruptions hit south Mumbai as police enforced diversions and tightened security.

Mumbai: Pro-Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil, whose indefinite fast entered the fourth day on Monday, announced that he would stop consuming water from today until the state government implements Maratha reservation under the OBC category.

The cabinet subcommittee headed by Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil will meet today to discuss Jarange-Patil’s demands. His medical examination was conducted at midnight, where the medical team checked his blood and blood pressure.

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As he is firm on giving up water intake from today, the water level in Jarange-Patil’s body has already decreased, and doctors have advised him to continue drinking water and ORS.

Since Monday morning, a large number of pro-Maratha reservation activists and Jarange-Patil’s supporters have started arriving at Azad Maidan, causing huge traffic jams on roads connecting south Mumbai from the Eastern Express Highway and Atal Setu.

In the wake of the large gathering, Mumbai Police, in a post on X, issued a traffic advisory: “We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to Mumbaikars as their commute towards South Mumbai was affected due to the entry of a large number of people and vehicles into the city for the ongoing agitation. We worked hard and tried our best to minimise the inconvenience.”

Police and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) sources said that all roads leading towards Mumbai CSMT and the municipality will be closed for traffic. Vehicles coming towards Mumbai via the JJ Flyover will be allowed to proceed via the Mumbai Police Commissionerate and then via Metro Junction or Churchgate Station.

The BMC Road near the main entrance of Azad Maidan, which comes from Metro Junction towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), will also be closed. Hazarimal Somani Road, which leads from Fashion Street to CSMT and is adjacent to Azad Maidan, will also be closed.

The traffic route from Hutatma Chowk towards CSMT has also been changed. Police sources further said that the road from Madam Cama Road to Marine Drive Junction in front of the Mantralaya has been closed for traffic due to security reasons.

The freeway, which was closed for two days due to the parking of vehicles by Maratha protesters, will remain open for traffic. Additional police deployment has been made at Azad Maidan, Marine Drive, Paydhuni, and Wadala. Traffic is likely to be slow towards South Mumbai due to the ongoing protest.

Currently, the road from Nariman Point to the Oval Maidan area in South Mumbai is closed. Further, the road from Churchgate to Fort has also been closed for traffic. Citizens have been asked to use alternative routes.

Vehicles of protesters are continuously coming from the freeway, leading to congestion in Wadi Bandar and nearby areas. People commuting by road to work are also facing traffic jams.