Yesterday, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) started its ‘Halla Bol’ protest march against the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government over a number of issues. The march began around noon at a company near J J Hospital in Byculla and will end at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in south Mumbai.
The march is also against the Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute and the ‘insult’ of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, social reformers Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.
The MVA rally was a united show of support from all three major political parties in Maharashtra. The Pawar family was present, including Sharad Pawar, his daughter Supriya Sule, his nephew, and Opposition Leader Ajit Pawar. This is the first time that the MVA constituents—the Shiv Sena (UBT), Nationalist Congress Party, and Congress—have come together in such a strong way. The rally will feature important leaders from all three parties.
To ensure that no untoward incident occurs, up to 2,500 police officers will be present in the streets. Additionally, 317 police officers, 1,870 constables, 22 platoons of the State Reserve Police Force, and at least 30 squads of Riot Control Police will be on duty. This will help to ensure that the streets are safe and law and order are upheld.
In Maharashtra’s parliamentary districts, the BJP is holding “Maafi Mango” protests in response to the MVA’s march. The protests are in response to the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut for stirring up a debate over Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s birthplace and party leader Sushma Andhare is demeaning Hindu deities and saint. The BJP is also accusing the Shiv Sena of
Uddhav Thackeray & other MVA leaders have been asked to apologize by the BJP.