Overview

• The Maratha quota leader began an open‑ended fast at Azad Maidan, vowing not to leave until demands to recognise Marathas as Kunbis and grant a 10% OBC quota are accepted.
• Mumbai Police cleared the protest only from 9 am to 6 pm with a cap of 5,000 people and five vehicles, but police units estimated turnout in the tens of thousands.
• More than 1,500 city police backed by CRPF, RAF, CISF and the Maharashtra Security Force were deployed, with security reinforced at CSMT and other transit hubs.
• Traffic authorities shut the Eastern Freeway and Sion–Panvel corridor and issued diversions across South Mumbai, while BEST reported disruptions and suburban stations saw crowding.
• Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said the government is ready for talks and CM Devendra Fadnavis reiterated support for Maratha welfare within court‑mandated constraints after the earlier SEBC quota was struck down.