The Maharashtra Maha Vikas Akhadi (MVA) will take out a rally in Mumbai on Saturday, to protest against the Eknath Shinde government. The 'Halla Bol' rally will be a show of unity between the MVA allies—Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena faction, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress— to protest against `injustice' meted out to Maharashtra and insults of the state's icon Chhatrapati Shivaji. The march will start near J J Hospital and end at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in south Mumbai. The MVA expects nearly 3 lakh people to join its rally, according to reports
The ruling BJP will also organise a protest, demanding an apology from MVA leaders, particularly from the Thackeray Sena, for their “insulting” remarks about Hindu deities and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, MidDay reported.
Speaking about the party's 'Maafi Mango' agitation, Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar said Sena leader Sanjay Raut tried to create a controversy over Ambedkar's birthplace, while another leader Sushma Andhare `insulted' Lord Ram, Lord Krishna, saint Dynaneshwar and saint Eknath as well as the Warkari community. Shelar, a former minister, alleged that Raut made a false statement that Ambedkar was born in Maharashtra which was an attempt to create controversy over his birthplace.
Mumbai police gear up
As the ruling and opposition parties gear up for a face-off, the Mumbai Police has deployed heavy security on the major roads to maintain law and order. While granting permission police also asked the leaders of all political parties not to make provocative speeches during the march or use posters, placards or banners that may hurt the sentiments of any person. As many as 317 police officers, 1,870 constables, 22 platoons of State Reserve Police Force, and at least 30 squads of Riot Control Police will be on hand to maintain law and order.
Owing to the rallies, traffic diversions have also been announced in the city. The vehicular movement shall be closed from Richardson’s Cudas Mill to the Times of India Building in CST, due to the MVA rally, Indian Express reported.
