Maratha protesters converge: Police stare at chaotic Friday

CITY STANDOFF | Over 20,000 Maratha protesters are expected to gather in the city

- Ravikiran Deshmukh

Today (Friday) is a critical test for Mumbai Police, who are stretched between managing Ganpati festival crowds and the massive Maratha agitation at Azad Maidan, led by activist Manoj Jarange-Patil. Even though the Bombay High Court denied permission for the protest within the city limits, the government relented for fear of losing a vote bank. As a result, over 20,000 protesters are expected to gather in the city and bring it to a screeching halt.

However, Jarange is unhappy that they have been given permission to hold the protest for only one day. Before beginning the march from his Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna, he said, "If we are allowed to hold agitation for one day only, then the government should fulfil the demand for quota in one day."