‘Fight to change govt’: Uddhav Thackeray’s war cry at CJP Shivaji Park protest

Drawing parallel with Sonam Wangchuk’s contributions, he said, “Compare what Sonam Wangchuk has contributed to the country with what this government has done. You all represent the nation’s future. Is someone a traitor for creating solar-powered tents for soldiers stationed in zero temperatures? These people are merely cronies of industrialists.”

Hundreds of college students, civil society members and political workers gathered outside Shivaji Park in Dadar on Sunday, July 19, evening to protest Sonam Wangchuk’s transfer to Safdarjung Hospital from the Jantar Mantar protest site in the early hours of Saturday. The protest was shifted to Shivaji Park after organisers were denied permission to demonstrate at Azad Maidan or elsewhere in South Mumbai. As rain left the ground waterlogged, the gathering was held outside the park.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray at protest site (Express Photo by Akash Patil)

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray linked the protest to broader concerns over education and unemployment, alleging that students were repeatedly forced to agitate because of failures in the examination system.

Protesters waved the Tricolour and raised slogans including “Vande Mataram”, “Free Sonam Wangchuk” and “Dharmendra Pradhan istifa do (resign)”.

Several participants said the demonstration reflected growing concerns over the state of education.

“This is our first step towards holding the government accountable for the shortcomings in education,” said 17-year-old Aafreen Mohammed.

Others said the issues extended beyond a single incident and called for structural reforms to the education system.

Explaining why permission was denied in South Mumbai, a senior police officer said protests are not permitted at Azad Maidan or elsewhere in South Mumbai on weekends under guidelines framed pursuant to Bombay High Court directions.

“There were social media messages calling for a march from Girgaum Chowpatty to Churchgate railway station. We informed the organisers that permission could not be granted. They then shifted the protest to Shivaji Park, where Shiv Sena (UBT) had already planned a demonstration on the same issue around 4 pm,” the officer said.

On Saturday, Mumbai Police registered two FIRs in connection with protests held in support of Wangchuk.

One FIR was lodged at Marine Drive police station against workers of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) for protesting near Mantralaya. The second was registered at Azad Maidan police station against members of Left organisations for protesting near the Press Club.

Seven persons, including Sudhir Dhawale, an accused in the Elgar Parishad case who was granted bail last year, were booked.

Protesters assembled at Shivaji Park in Mumbai (Express Photo by Akash Patil)

They were charged with disobedience to an order promulgated by a public servant, wrongful restraint, unlawful assembly and other offences. All those booked were issued notices and allowed to leave.

Meanwhile, protest organiser Pranay Ahire alleged that he came under police surveillance while on his way to Azad Maidan police station on Saturday morning to seek permission for a peaceful demonstration.

“The police had stationed officers outside my house and kept me under surveillance. A host of police officers were also following me discreetly, almost as if I were a criminal,” Ahire alleged.

Aamir Kazi, 32, Mumbai president of the All India Students’ Federation (AISF), was admitted to Gokuldas Tejpal Hospital after being detained during Saturday’s protest.

Kazi alleged that despite suffering injuries during the protest, he and other demonstrators were first taken to police stations before being shifted to hospital for treatment.