Saffron ocean at Azad Maidan as Maratha morcha reaches Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 9 Mumbai's Azad Maidan transformed into an ocean of saffron today as a huge number of people requesting bookings for the Maratha people group assembled here in what was their 58th protest in a year.

Wearing saffron tops and conveying banners, the protesters walked down south Mumbai's JJ flyover, which was shut for vehicular movement, winding their way to the challenge scene.

At the Jijamata Udyan, where the Maratha morcha started at 11 AM, protesters destroyed pennants put by the Shiv Sena, focusing on that they didn't need any "political obstruction".

Rajya Sabha member Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje told correspondents at Azad Maidan he was taking part in the march not as a Member of Parliament but rather as an "ordinary member" of the Maratha people group.

Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh additionally voiced his support to the protest march with a late night tweet.

"Ek Maratha, Lakh Maratha," the on-screen character tweeted in Marathi, alluding to a mainstream trademark.

At Azad Maidan, a morcha member - dressed like Chhatrapati Shivaji - was heard lauding the excellencies of an "government of the people and for the people", as honed by the Maratha lord.

Ishanvi Deshmukh, a three-year-old young lady, inspired the social occasion with a very much retained discourse looking for bookings for the Maratha people group.

A few inhabitants of Kopardi town in Ahmednagar area, where the merciless assault and murder in July 2016 of a 14-year-old girl having a place with the group activated monstrous dissents over the state, likewise took an interest in the present morcha.

Additionally present at the scene was Manohar Anandrao Patil from Latur area, who said he had taken part in all the 58 Maratha morchas till date.

The main challenge was held in Aurangabad on August 9 a year ago.

Another dissenter went to the scene in the clothing of an farmer in trouble, with a noose dangling from his neck.

"This is an endeavor to attract the government's consideration regarding the situation of farmers," he said.

All stopping territories in Navi Mumbai were full as morcha members originating from crosswise over Maharashtra stopped their vehicles on vacant lots.

The nonconformists have been requesting reservation in occupations and instructive foundations for members of the Maratha people group, discipline for guilty parties in the Kopardi case and advance waivers for farmers.