Maratha quota protests paralyze Maharashtra

As Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange's indefinite hunger strike entered the fifth day at Mumbai's Azad Maidan, the agitation spilled over into the busy CSMT and nearby areas, taking on unusual hues.

Supporters turned parts of the station premises into a playground, engaging in kabaddi, kho kho, wrestling, and even cricket on the road outside Azad Maidan. Some groups danced to Hindi and Marathi songs, while others raised slogans like "Ek Maratha Lakh Maratha" and "Aarakshan Aamcha Hakka Che". A few agitators even formed a human pyramid with a placard of quota demands, PTI reported.

However, the agitation also created chaos. Protesters littered roads, platforms and tracks with leftover food, bottles,

wrappers, and other waste. Despite the BMC deploying 1,000 sanitation workers, distributing garbage bags, and installing 400 toilets, large parts of CSMT and surrounding roads resembled a dumping ground by evening. Water bottles, banana peels, samosas, and tea cups were strewn around, worsened by light rain and haphazardly parked vehicles. Civic workers resorted to water jet machines to wash roads.

Inside CSMT, overcrowding inconvenienced daily commuters. Some protesters jumped onto Harbour Line tracks before

being persuaded to leave by railway police. Others attempted to block vehicles, including BEST buses, and tried to enter the Bombay Stock Exchange building but were stopped by security personnel. Traffic on Mahapalika Marg, JJ Marg and DN Road came to a standstill at times, the report said.

Government Railway Police Commissioner Rakesh Kalasagar said security arrangements had been strengthened for both commuters and agitators. "We have requested protesters to cooperate with police and keep space for train passengers," he added.

While garbage piled up in several areas, not all protesters ignored civic appeals. A group from Ambegaon tehsil in Pune district was seen voluntarily cleaning parts of the CSMT station.

Jarange has been on hunger strike at Azad Maidan since August 29, demanding 10% reservation for Marathas under the OBC category. Thousands from across Maharashtra have poured into Mumbai to back his stir. In the evening, vehicles carrying food arrived outside CSMT, where protesters cheered and distributed items among fellow agitators and even office-goers heading

home.