Mumbai:
Mumbai politician Raj Thackeray has reached the Azad Maidan in South Mumbai where he is expected to address a crowd that has swelled to 40,000 now. Earlier, he pulled up in an SUV to join thousands of supporters to lead the march from Girgaum Chowpatty. The police had refused permission for the five-kilometre march. Unconcerned, Mr Thackeray and his supporters forced traffic to a complete stop for about 40 minutes, before dispersing for Azad Maidan where Mr Thackeray will, at a rally, demand the resignation of Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil.
The police had refused permission for the march but agreed to the rally at Azad Maidan. After arriving at the starting point of the planned march, Mr Thackeray decided to drive to the venue of his rally, helping the crowds disperse. If he had decided to walk there, the procession would have crawled, leaving traffic in South Mumbai knotted up for hours.
At Azad Maidan, Mr Thackeray will demand the resignation of state Home Minister RR Patil and Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik for a riot at the same venue earlier this month. Thousands had gathered on August 11 to protest against the ethnic violence in Assam in which nearly 80 people have died. The meeting spiralled into a riot in which two people died and more than 40 were injured. A mob armed with swords and iron rods attacked policemen and women; several vehicles were set on fire.
Though MNS leaders have claimed that over one lakh people will participate in the procession, police expect around 40,000-50,000 people to march from Girgaum Chowpatty to the Marine Drive flyover and proceed to Azad Maidan via the Metro Cinema junction.