Maratha quota | Manoj Jarange's stir not peaceful, ensure all Mumbai streets vacated by Sept 2: Bombay High Court

Mumbai: As the Maratha reservation agitation led by Manoj Jarange Patil gathered steam leading to a complete chaos in South Mumbai, the Bombay High Court observed that the situation has “gone out of hands” and asked the Maharashtra government to clear the protestors from the city's streets except for the designated protest area (Azad Maidan) by Tuesday.

The Devendra Fadnavis-led Maha Yuti dispensation is burning the midnight oil to address the issue with multiple legal options, as the Marathas are demanding reservation under the ambit of 27 per cent OBC quota.

"The situation is grim and the city of Mumbai has been practically brought to a standstill,” said a division bench comprising Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad, which conducted a special hearing on the petition of Amy Foundation and others on Monday.

Calling the situation “grim”, the court said: "We are giving Jarange and his supporters an opportunity to rectify the situation immediately and ensure the streets are vacated and cleaned up by Tuesday noon….We can see how peaceful the protest is. The High Court building is surrounded. The entry gates for the judges and lawyers are blocked. The cars of high court judges were blocked today and prevented from coming to court today. The entire city has been blocked.”

The HC has set a deadline of 4 pm to clear off the Mumbai city of protestors.

The regular bench will hear the matter on Tuesday at 3 pm.

Reacting to the order, Jarange-Patil asked the agitators to come to Azad Maidan and vacate the roads. "Don't be on the streets and trouble people...go to the designated places and parking lots...if you feel you can go back to your villages."

During the hearing, the state government's counsel, Advocate General Dr Birendra Saraf, pointed out that the protesters had flaunted every rule and while they were given permission to protest for one day, they had overstayed and were refusing to go back.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the HC order will be implemented. “The government will implement the High Court directives,” Fadnavis told reporters in Pune. “There have been sporadic incidents which have been cleared by police within minutes,” he said, however, added: "I was travelling, so I do not know exactly what the court observed. I got to know that the court has observed that some violations have taken place regarding the permissions given to the protest in Mumbai. The court has expressed displeasure over whatever is happening on the roads of Mumbai”.

On the other hand, Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who heads the 12-member Cabinet-committee had shown willingness to hold talks.

“We are not adamant. The government is studying their memorandums to see if a positive outcome can come out,” said Fadnavis.

“Over the past few days we are studying the issue and mulling options,” said Vikhe-Patil indicating that they are working on possible solutions.

In its order, the bench emphatically told Jarange-Patil’s lawyers that no more than 5000 protestors could remain in the city and that too in Azad Maidan.

From the Jarange-Patil side, advocates Shriram Pingle, Ramesh Dube-Patil, and Vaibhav Kadam were present besides others from the petitioners and intervenors.

Fadnavis further said that discussions can’t take place on the mic, and the government should know whom to hold talks with. “If someone from their side comes forward for talks, the process to find a solution will be expedited," he said.

When Jarange-Patil was asked about negotiations, he said: "I am here...sitting here...can't they come for discussions...don't you have legs."

Jarange-Patil said that he had announced that he would leave water from Monday, however, had to sip it as he wanted to speak to his followers and media. “It pains me…I am here for all of you…your kids…our future…please follow what the court has said,” he added.