Opposition’s R-Day rally plan in Mumbai hits a roadblock

The Opposition’s plans to hold a protest march in the city on Republic Day has hit a roadblock.

The Opposition’s plans to hold a protest march in the city on Republic Day has hit a roadblock.

The ‘Save the Constitution’ march is scheduled to start from Mantralaya and culminate at Chhatrapati Shivaji’s statue at the Gateway of India (FILE)

The ‘Save the Constitution’ march is scheduled to start from Mantralaya and culminate at Chhatrapati Shivaji’s statue at the Gateway of India. The organisers had sought permission from Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) on January 18. The rally is against the Nationalist Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s attempts to change the constitution.

In a letter (a copy of which is with HT) to the conveners on Wednesday, the MbPT has neither given a go-ahead nor denied permission to the organisers. In fact, the authority has stated it has already given permission to the Minority Development Department of Maharashtra government to hold a “Urdu Mushayara” at Gateway of India on January 26.

Jitendra Awhad, one of the conveners of the rally, said, “The letter only states there is another event at the venue, it does not say that we have been denied permission. In any case, we do not need permission from anyone in the state to bow before Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.”

Awhad also said that the rally would end before the Musharaya starts.

Prominent leaders namely NCP chief Sharad Pawar, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, NCP leader Jayant Patil and activists Hardik Patel, Jignesh Mevani and Tushar Gandhi are expected to take part in the 2-km march.

Sanjay Bhatia, chairman, MbPT, said, “We have not denied permission to anyone. We have just asked them to co-ordinate with the minority department, which has also got prior approval from MbPT for their event.”