Vacate Azad Maidan Now, Court Tells Jarange

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday (September 2) said activist Manoj Jarange and his supporters violated the law and must vacate Azad Maidan immediately.

Jarange has apologised to the court for the misbehaviour

by a few supporters on city streets and the trouble caused to the common man.

The court observed that the situation was very serious and there has been a lapse on the part of the Maharashtra government.

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Earlier in the day, Mumbai Police denied permission to Jarange to continue his protest and asked him to evacuate Azad Maidan as well. Jarange’s hunger strike demanding the Maratha quota entered its fifth day today.

Jarange remained defiant and refused to vacate the ground after the notice from the police.

Jarange, 43, who has been fasting at Azad Maidan since August 29 to demand inclusion of Marathas in the OBC category, briefly stopped consuming water on Monday but later took sips while addressing supporters.