Hundreds gather at Shivaji Park as Aaditya Thackeray calls for protest in Dadar

Hundreds of people gathered at Shivaji Park in Dadar area of Mumbai following a call for protest by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Monday.

Large crowds on Monday evening began gathering at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Monday after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray appealed to Mumbaikars to join a silent protest between 4 pm and 7 pm over the detention of demonstrators protesting against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

The protest call came a day after Mumbai Police registered a case against 25 people, including Aaditya Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Amit Thackeray, in connection with a demonstration held outside Shivaji Park Police Station.

The leaders had protested against the detention of demonstrators who had raised allegations of irregularities in the electoral process and demanded CEC’s resignation.

Mumbai Police books leaders after protest

Mumbai Police on Monday registered a case. 

Apart from Aaditya Thackeray and Amit Thackeray, other leaders named in the FIR include MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande and Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Varun Sardesai and Mahesh Sawant, according to ANI.

Case registered over alleged unlawful assembly

Police have invoked provisions relating to unlawful assembly and alleged disobedience of orders issued by public authorities. The sections cited in the report include Section 189(2), along with Sections 37(1), 37(3) and 135.

The case comes amid heightened tensions following demonstrations in Mumbai against Gyanesh Kumar. The protesters have raised concerns about alleged irregularities in the electoral process and called for the CEC's resignation.

Aaditya, Amit Thackeray protest against detentions

On Sunday, Aaditya and Amit Thackeray staged a protest outside Shivaji Park Police Station, demanding the release of people detained during the demonstration.

The protest drew attention from leaders of both parties as they challenged the police action against demonstrators.

Aaditya accused the BJP-led government of being afraid of citizens who take to the streets to protest.

He alleged that people participating in demonstrations were being arrested. 

“Those who ran away from us and joined the BJP, all those traitors, what are they saying now? Where is Eknath Shinde hiding? Where are the six MPs who went with him hiding? Where are all their allies?” he said.

(with ANI inputs)

* This article was originally published here