Maratha quota protest: Hunger strike at Azad Maidan enters Day 2, BMC rushes facilities after protesters’ fury

Despite the civic measures, resentment among demonstrators has not eased completely.

The heart of Mumbai has become the epicenter of the Maratha reservation movement once again. Activist Manoj Jarange Patil began his indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan on Friday, pressing for 10 percent reservation for Marathas under the OBC category.

On the second day of his fast, thousands of supporters remained camped out at the protest site, undeterred by heavy rains that left the ground muddy and waterlogged. For many who travelled overnight by train and buses, the sight was grim, puddles of mud, no food stalls open, and no clean drinking water.

Rains worsen protesters’ ordeal

Since Friday morning, Mumbai has seen continuous showers. The downpour turned Azad Maidan into slush, forcing people to sit in the mud with little protection. With food scarce, protesters were seen cooking rice and vegetables on makeshift stoves outside Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), just a stone’s throw from the protest site.

Women and children who joined the protest complained of unhygienic conditions and lack of toilets. “We came here to support our community, not to suffer like this,” one woman said, sitting beside a wet tarpaulin sheet that was doubling up as shelter.

Anger spills onto the streets

By Saturday morning, frustration boiled over. Protesters blocked traffic at the busy CSMT junction for nearly four hours, leaving vehicles stranded in central Mumbai. The blockade sent a strong signal that the agitation was not just about symbolic fasting but about neglect and deprivation.

Jarange sharpened his criticism in a media briefing, directly naming BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani. “Under the chief minister’s influence, he has stopped food and water for protesters. You have even closed toilets and hotels. Let’s see how many days you harass poor Marathas. We won’t forget this,” Jarange warned.

He also said the Commissioner would be held accountable even after retirement, a remark that underlined the distrust between the protesters and civic authorities.

BMC’s scramble to provide facilities

By Saturday afternoon, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was in full damage-control mode. Officials issued a statement detailing the facilities being provided at Azad Maidan:

Mud cleared, gravel spread: Two truckloads of gravel were dumped to level the rain-hit ground and entry points.

Lighting installed: High-intensity floodlights were set up with support from the Mumbai Fire Brigade to ensure safety at night.

Water supply restored: Eleven tankers of drinking water were stationed at the site, with more requested.

Medical aid deployed: A dedicated medical desk with four teams and two ambulances was made operational 24x7.

Toilet access expanded: 29 toilets inside the ground were made free. In addition, three mobile units with 10 seats each, 12 portable toilets near the Metro site, and another 250 units in the Fashion Street area were opened. All pay-and-use toilets nearby were declared free of cost.

Cleanliness drive: Continuous sanitation and pesticide spraying teams were deployed to keep the area usable despite rains.

The civic body clarified that hotels and restaurants around Azad Maidan were not shut down, contradicting protesters’ claims.

Protesters remain defiant

Despite the civic measures, resentment among demonstrators has not eased completely. Many still feel the facilities came only after public embarrassment and the traffic blockade.

“They gave us water and toilets only after we sat on the roads. Why didn’t they do this from the beginning?” asked a young protester who had travelled from Jalna.

The larger political backdrop

The Maratha reservation issue has been simmering for years. Jarange, who rose to prominence during last year’s protests in Jalna, has repeatedly pressured the government by launching fasts-unto-death. His demand now is specific, 10 percent quota under OBC, and his hunger strike in Mumbai has amplified the political stakes for the Maharashtra government.