Jalna (Maharashtra): Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange, whose indefinite hunger strike entered the 14th day on Friday, said he and his supporters would march to Mumbai to press their demands whether or not the Maharashtra government granted them permission.
Addressing reporters at Antarwali Sarati in the district, he said a meeting of Maratha community members from across the state would be held in the village on Saturday to decide the date, route and strategy for the march to Mumbai.
Jarange's hunger strike in Mumbai last year had brought parts of the city to a standstill. Earlier in the day, the Bombay High Court refused to pass any urgent order on a petition seeking to stop his fresh protest in the state capital, saying that every person has the right to protest and the court can not issue any restraining order merely on the apprehension of law and order trouble.
"We will go to Mumbai whether the government gives us permission or not. Unless we put pressure on the government, it will not open its mouth," Jarange said at Antarwali Sarati.
He appealed to Marathas who can travel to Antarwali Sarati to attend Saturday's meeting in large numbers. Those who have agricultural work or financial or other difficulties may remain in their villages and arrange vehicles for those who would travel to Mumbai, he said.
"This is not the time to sit safely at home and watch news and meetings on television," he added.
Jarange also said that if protesters were harassed by the government or police during their march to Mumbai, Marathas should block roads and stage protests in their villages.
The protest march to Mumbai would be much larger this time, he said.
He also reiterated his demand that the government should issue a Government Resolution (GR) for Maratha-Kunbis, allowing them to claim reservation available to the Kunbi community in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota.
"The Constitution gives everyone the fundamental right to protest peacefully. We are citizens who follow the law," he said.
In Mumbai, the Bombay High Court refused to pass any order prohibiting Jarange's planned march to Mumbai, saying that the Maharashtra government was capable of handling any potential law and order situation.
A bench of Chief Justice M C Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna said it can not pass a prohibitory order merely on the basis of apprehension that a situation similar to the last year may unfold again.
"We are in a democratic country," the HC said, and directed the government to ensure that Jarange gets medical assistance if required.
"The state government should intervene and speak with him.....At this stage we can not intervene. As and when a situation arises then we will see," the court said.
Advocate General Milind Sathe told the court that the government had not received any application from Jarange seeking permission for a protest in Mumbai.
"If someone takes law and order in their hands then the state is capable of handling it. If someone acts contrary to the provisions of law, the state is capable enough to handle it," the HC said.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke met Jarange, and appealed to the Maharashtra government to listen to the Maratha activist. He also warned against attempts to "forcibly intervene" in the agitation.
“The government should have a dialogue with him to understand his demands. They should not even try to touch him because this is Maharashtra. There will be consequences,” Dipke said.
He said Jarange was seeking facilities for students like Prathamesh Deshmukh, an MPSC aspirant who died by suicide.
Dipke also asked whether the government wanted to keep Jarange starved for 26 days, as in the case of activist Sonam Wangchuk's protest at Jantar Mantar.
Meanwhile, Jarange received four intravenous (IV) fluid treatments between Thursday and Friday morning, following which his health condition improved, officials said.
On Thursday, Jarange had complained of severe headache and nausea. A medical team examined him and administered medicines, officials said.
District Collector Ashima Mittal said a team of doctors was continuously monitoring Jarange's health.
