Mumbai, Sep 16 (PTI) The Mumbai Police have issued a notice to fasting Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange, seeking clarification on “contradictions” in his statements about his proposed protest in the state capital, officials said on Wednesday.
The move comes after the police repeatedly denied permission to Jarange for staging a demonstration at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai.
Officials said Jarange had initially submitted a letter stating that he would protest alone, accompanied by only 50 people. However, officials said a large crowd of supporters was seen accompanying him as he set off for Mumbai from Jalna district on Tuesday.
In the notice dated September 15, the police asked Jarange to provide detailed information about the planned demonstration, including the list of volunteers, the total number of people attending, and details of the vehicles being used.
Police said Jarange’s formal undertaking and his public statements are contradictory.
While informing authorities he would protest alone, the activist reportedly appealed to the Maratha community through the media to keep their bags packed and be ready to move to Mumbai upon his call to defend the quota.
Jarange on Wednesday evening said he will stay at Potoda in Beed district for medical treatment and resume his journey to Mumbai to stage an agitation on Thursday afternoon.
If anyone stopped him on the way, members of the Maratha community should set out for Maharashtra’s capital, he said.
Jarange, whose hunger strike for reservation demands has entered the 19th day, reached Patoda in the early hours of Wednesday and halted in the town as doctors advised him immediate treatment due to severe dehydration and other health complications. PTI ZA NSK
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