The aftermath of the Maratha agitation for reservation was felt at the Azad Maidan and surrounding areas, where protestors persisted until late evening on Saturday. The stage constructed for Manoj Jarange Patil’s hunger strike was dismantled when it was confirmed that the leader had left from the protest site in Vashi for his home.
Though vehicles began withdrawing from the ground, many supporters continued to remain at the protest site. Outside the CSMT railway station, those returning to their villages by train held demonstrations. They were seen shouting slogans such as ‘Ek Maratha, lakh Maratha’ and throwing gulal at each other.
The Mumbai Police’s Riot Control teams remained deployed alongside emergency services, including medical posts, portable washrooms and ambulances, indicating a cautious approach to the developments.
A community member aged 60 said to mid-day, “We were prepared for a hunger strike at Azad Maidan. Though our generation was not fortunate enough to have access to good education and job opportunities, our children will certainly benefit from the newly-bestowed reservation.”
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