MUMBAI, July 8: High drama unfolded in Mira Bhayandar area near Mumbai on Tuesday as hundreds took part in a protest march led by the MNS and other groups to defend the Marathi ‘asmita’ (pride) amid rising political heat following the attack on a shopkeeper for refusal to speak Marathi.
The march witnessed detention of several activists by the police with leaders and workers of opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) also joining the protest. Shiv Sena minister Pratap Sarnaik was heckled and driven away by angry demonstrators as he visited the site to express solidarity.
The march organised by the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and other pro-Marathi groups under the aegis of Marathi Ekikaran Samiti to counter a protest staged by traders recently against the slapping of a food stall owner by MNS workers on July 1 for not speaking Marathi.
A video of the assault had gone viral on social media, following which traders in Bhayandar staged a protest, seeking action against the attackers. Seven MNS members were later detained.
Ahead of Tuesday’s proposed rally, security had been stepped up in Mira Bhayandar in Thane district. The police had denied permission to the rally.
The day started with the police detaining local MNS leader Avinash Jadhav from his house in Thane at around 3.30 am.A prohibitory order was issued against Jadhav by the police on Monday, restraining him from entering Mira Bhayandar to participate in the rally. He was released later in the day.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stepped in saying permission had been granted for the MNS rally, but the party insisted on a specific route which posed law and order challenges.
Fadnavis said permission was sought late Monday night for holding a gathering, which was also granted. MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande slammed the government, saying “CM Fadnavis says he is ready to grant permission, but only if we change our rally route. That is nothing but a tactic to suppress our voice.” The protest march, which began from Balaji Corner in Mira Road shortly after 12 noon, concluded at Mira Road railway station around 2.30 pm. However, several protesters remained in the station area till Jadhav arrived at the spot around 4 pm.
After the dramatic scenes on the streets and apparent political intervention, the morcha passed through the original route proposed by the organisers.
The situation became tense when police started detaining protesters raising slogans for protecting the ‘Marathi asmita’ (pride). Some of them were picked up by the police while they were addressing the media.
Television channels flashed images of women being bundled into police vans while they were shouting slogans against the “high-handedness” of the police. Several activists were detained inside a banquet hall to prevent them from reaching the protest venue.The groundswell of support for the Marathi cause prompted minister Sarnaik to criticise the police for “uncalled action” which is not in line with any government directive.(PTI)
