The Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) ‘Halla Bol’ rally to raise issues crucial to Maharashtra, while BJP’s ‘Maafi Maango Andolan’ protest at Nariman Point, Ghatkopar, Kandivali, Andheri, Dadar; security heightened, traffic diversions in place in the city.
The protest was a great success as the crowd was swelling and people stood in solidarity with Maha Vikas Aghadi.
The MVA’s ‘Halla Bol’ morcha kicked off Saturday morning from Richardson and Cruddas near Byculla, moving towards Azad Maidan. Senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders, including Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, NCP’s Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule, Jayant Patil and Congress’s Bala Saheb Thorat, Prithviraj Chavan and Ashok Chavan were seen. Sharad Pawar is also likely to attend the march.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), meanwhile, will hold a string of protests named ‘Maafi Maango Andolan’ at Nariman Pt, Ghatkopar, Kandivali, Andheri, Dadar today. The party has raised objections to Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sushma Andhare’s statements mocking Hindu Gods and saints. The protest is also to highlight Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut’s misinformation about Dr B R Ambedkar’s birthplace.
NCP leader Ajit Pawar, while addressing the gathering, said “This morcha has been organised to show ‘Maharashtra drohi’ their place, who are present in Maharashtra now, insulting our historical leaders, insulting our state, its pride. This morcha is proof that Maharashtra will give apt replies to such people, and will not sit back during such insults. Looking at the enthusiasm of all who participated here today, the government will be shaken and have to acknowledge our demands.”
NCP supremo Shadar Pawar asserted that the Governor should be removed. Saying that the governor of Maharashtra has to be removed, Ajit Pawar said, “In 2.5 years we did not see instances where villages from Maharashtra demanded going to Karnataka, or Gujarat, or MP. Why has this happened now? Maharashtra will not tolerate this, that’s why the morcha has been organised. Since Shinde, Fadanvis government has come, our historical leaders are insulted, and villagers want to leave the state…”
Owing to the rallies, security has been heightened across the city, and traffic curbs are in place. Meanwhile, The Warkari community in Thane has called a bandh in Thane to protest against the statement of Sushma Andhare, deputy leader of the Thackeray group. Due to this bandh, bus services of the Thane Municipal Transport Service were suspended.
The foot march, which began from a company near J J Hospital at Byculla around noon, will conclude at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in south Mumbai. Leaders and workers of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress had started gathering near the J J Hospital since morning. When the march started around noon, they were seen carrying banners, placards and images of Shivaji Maharaj and the Phule.
