Mumbai Police Serve Notice to Activist Over Azad Maidan Hunger Strike

Mumbai, Sep 2 (PTI) — The Mumbai Police have issued a notice to activist Manoj Jarange and his team to vacate Azad Maidan, where an indefinite hunger strike is being staged over the Maratha quota demand, officials reported on Tuesday.

The action followed violations of pre-agitation conditions outlined by the police in accordance with the Bombay High Court's guidelines, prompting Azad Maidan police to deliver the notice to Jarange and his core team, an official stated.

Jarange's hunger strike, aimed at securing Maratha reservation, reached its fifth day on Tuesday at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai.

The High Court has mandated that his supporters vacate all streets in the city by noon on Tuesday to restore normalcy.

Emphasizing that Mumbai has been "literally paralysed" due to the Maratha agitation, which has breached all conditions and brought the city to a halt, the High Court on Monday stated it was providing an "opportunity" for Jarange and the protesters to ensure all streets are cleared and cleaned by Tuesday noon.

Jarange is advocating for the inclusion of Marathas in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category to avail reservation benefits.