Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 31: The second day of Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange’s indefinite hunger strike saw swelling crowds on Saturday, as thousands of supporters virtually converted the Azad Maidan and its surroundings into a massive protest camp.

With the rains easing, protesters spilled onto the roads around the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters, bringing morning traffic to a complete halt. Police said over 45,000 protesters had reached south Mumbai on Friday, with nearly 30,000 staying overnight.

The road outside the Azad Maidan has been closed for traffic, with vehicles of supporters lining both sides. Protesters made do with makeshift arrangements – some taking baths in the open using water tankers provided by organisers and the BMC, while others even bathed in a nearby fountain.

While many cooked on the roadside the previous night, cooked food packets, including khichdi, were distributed among the agitators on Saturday. Groups of youngsters wearing saffron scarves were seen raising slogans, beating traditional halgi drums, and dancing on the roads to energise the crowds.

Protesters also fanned out across the area – some reached the Jehangir Art Gallery to raise slogans, while others visited the Gateway of India and crowded local eateries. In Navi Mumbai, where hundreds of protest vehicles were parked, a group from Beed reportedly heckled a young couple, forcing them to leave the area.

Groups blocked the road outside CSMT in the morning, complaining of lack of shelter, water, and toilets. Jarange himself had to intervene through a microphone appeal, asking them to clear the road.

According to police estimates, around 8,000 vehicles carried protesters from across Maharashtra, with a significant number arriving from Marathwada’s eight districts. The agitation is expected to intensify further as Jarange has vowed not to end his fast until Maratha reservations are granted.