Saralnama
Manoj Jarange's hunger strike demanding Maratha reservation under OBC continued for the fourth day at Azad Maidan, Mumbai, causing widespread disruption. Thousands of supporters gathered at CSMT and Azad Maidan, turning streets into sites of protest and sports activities. The agitation severely affected Mumbai's traffic and public transport, with key areas like CSMT, Metro Theatre, BMC office, and Bombay High Court surrounded by protesters. The Bombay High Court criticized the protest for violating conditions and causing a citywide standstill, with judges and lawyers forced to walk due to blocked access. Despite BMC deploying over 1,000 sanitation workers and mobile toilets, the area around CSMT became littered with waste. Some protesters also cleaned parts of the station. Jarange intensified his hunger strike by refusing water from September 1, urging the government to recognize Marathas as OBC based on historical records. The protest has drawn attention from the judiciary and administration, with the High Court ordering streets to be vacated by September 2 to restore normalcy. (Updated 2 Sep 2025, 01:29 IST; source: link)