Protesters from the MNS Party Demand Wankhede Stadium for Maratha Rights Rally

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader, Bala Nandgaonkar, has made an appeal to the state government to allow Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange to continue his protest at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. This move comes amid rising tensions following Raj Thackeray's recent remarks about the Maratha reservation protests.

Thousands of Maratha community members have converged in various parts of South Mumbai, causing significant traffic disruptions and commuter inconvenience. The current protest site, Azad Maidan, is considered too small to accommodate the growing number of protesters. Space at Azad Maidan is insufficient, and the situation is marked by rising tensions.

Nandgaonkar's appeal suggests that providing Wankhede Stadium as a protest site would offer a single, adequate location for the Maratha protesters. He emphasized that a larger venue like Wankhede Stadium could ease pressure on the city and better accommodate the protest.

The appeal from Nandgaonkar is a response to the criticism by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange towards Raj Thackeray. Jarange has labeled Raj Thackeray as "cunning" and an "opportunist" for allegedly interfering in Maratha matters and aligning with Devendra Fadnavis despite electoral setbacks.

Raj Thackeray, the MNS chief, questioned the resurgence of the Maratha reservation protests in Mumbai and stated that only deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde could explain the situation. He noted that during his tenure as Chief Minister, Shinde had claimed to have resolved Jarange's demands.

The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved major infrastructure projects, but these developments have been overshadowed by the ongoing Maratha protests and the tensions they have caused. The situation remains marked by rising tensions, with Jarange's outburst adding to the existing tension.

Nandgaonkar has defended Raj Thackeray, stating that he speaks his mind and means what he says. He assured that the MNS would work to ensure protestors do not face any inconvenience if the protest is moved to Wankhede Stadium.

The appeal from Mr. Nandgaonkar comes as a potential shift in the location of the Maratha protests from Azad Maidan to Wankhede Stadium. If approved, this could alleviate public frustration and offer a more manageable protest environment for both the authorities and the protesters.