Elgar morcha: Prakash Ambedkar, supporters gather at Azad maidan demanding arrest of Sambhaji Bhide

— By FPJ Web Desk | Mar 26, 2018 02:15 pm

Scores of Dalit supporters gathered at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai, to demand the arrest of Hindutva leader Sambhaji Bhide in the Bhima-Koregaon violence case. The protest is headed by well-known Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of Dr. BR Ambedkar and president of the Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh. The people gathered at Azad Maidan after Mumbai police denied permission to Elgar Morcha — a protest march– led by Prakash Ambedkar.


The Mumbai police have asked the Yalgar Parishad to assemble at Azad Maidan rather than taking out a rally from the Byculla Jail. The Mumbai Police has cited that the march that is scheduled to be held on Monday will create inconvenience to office goers as well as school and college going students.

“As the ‘Elgar March’ agitation has been planned on March 26 which is a working day and taking into consideration the inconvenience it might cause to public. Mumbai Police has pleaded the organisers to directly assemble inside Azad Maidan instead of staring the march from Ranibaug, Byculla,” read an official statement.

“Yalgar Parishad is taking out a rally from Byculla Jail to Azad Maidan tomorrow. Exams are underway in some schools and colleges. There are hospitals in that area. Common public also face inconvenience. So we have appealed them to assemble directly at Azad Maidan,” Mumbai DCP Deepak Deoraj told ANI. Sambhaji Bhide is accused of instigating the violence against Dalits during the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Bhima-Koregaon battle in January. However, he has denied all such allegations.

(Inputs from ANI)