CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGR/MUMBAI: A large number of Muslim community members led by former MP Imtiaz Jaleel of AIMIM and other political and social groups, who had left Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in hundreds of vehicles on Monday afternoon, reached Mulund toll plaza late evening in an attempt to enter Mumbai to seek action against BJP MLA Nitesh Rane and preacher Ramgiri Maharaj over separate hate speech cases registered against them.
The over 12,000-strong crowd, however, left from the Mulund toll naka after handing their representation to the divisional collector and other representatives at the spot late Monday night.
The protest march, called ‘Tiranga Samvidhan Rally’, started in Sambhajinagar. Hundreds of vehicles from different parts of Marathwada reached Sambhajinagar and started towards Mumbai via Samruddhi Super Expressway, disrupting traffic along the way. Police said this was for the first time the Samruddhi expressway witnessed a jam due to vehicles participating in a protest rally.
Jaleel was calling for the arrest of Ramgiri Maharaj and Nitesh Rane, accusing them of making inflammatory remarks. He planned to deliver copies of the Constitution to members of the ruling Mahayuti and senior police officials. However, Mumbai police stated Jaleel had not been granted permission to enter the city, and barricades were put up at Mulund toll naka, a key entry point to Mumbai. There was heavy police bandobast at the toll naka and across the city and more than 3,000 cops were deployed and traffic diverted.
This story was originally published in timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Read the full story here.