Mumbai's Shivaji Park packed as Tiranga Morcha seeks Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation

Thousands carrying Tricolours packed Shivaji Park on Friday for the Shiv Sena UBTorganised Tiranga Morcha demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhanrsquos resignation over the alleged NEET paper leak in the biggest show of strength yet in Mumbairsquos weeklong student protestsThis picture from Fridayrsquos protest not only symbolises the countryrsquos youngstersrsquo will to fight for a cause but reflects how protesters have brushed aside all fear to ensure their voices are heard right A person with disability joins the protest while another holds a poster demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan PicsAtul KambleLocal authorities estimated the turnout at around 2000 to 2500 as protesters gathered around the Meenatai Thackeray statue with placards and portraits of Bhagat Singh and Dr B R Ambedkar Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray addressed the gathering while MNS leader Amit Thackeray also joined the protestUddhav Thackeray addresses the protesters on Friday PicAtul KambleIn a marked departure from earlier demonstrations police did not detain students on Friday with a senior official saying they had requested that protesters not be taken into custody However authorities said the morcha did not have police permission and cases would be registered over the gathering later on FridayActor Atul Kulkarni joins the protest holding a copy of the Constitution PicsAtul KambleAround 200 police personnel were deployed at Shivaji Park At least four protesters were seen fainting while this reporter could not locate a standby ambulanceProtesters demand accountability and a probe into the alleged NEET paper leakFridayrsquos protest at a glanceWhere Shivaji Park DadarProtest Tiranga MorchaOrganised by Shiv Sena UBTIssue Alleged NEET paper leakMain demand Dharmendra Pradhanrsquos resignationTurnout 2000 to 2500Police deployment Around 200 personnelProtesters seen fainting At least 4Detentions Police said they requested that students not be detainedlsquoYou have lathis we have TirangasrsquoAddressing the gathering Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray warned the government against suppressing the student movementldquoThis is lsquojan ki baatrsquo and Delhi has to listen to it The way students were attacked teargassed I am warning the government mdash you can have lathis but we have Tirangas Letrsquos see who winsrdquo Thackeray saidAaditya Thackeray said the agitation would continue despite activist Sonam Wangchuk ending his indefinite hunger strikeHe said he had spoken to Cockroach Janta Party CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and asked him not to return to Maharashtra until Pradhan resignedMNS leader Amit Thackeray son of Raj Thackeray also addressed the gathering saying the Gen Z protests had put the government on the back footNo detentions this timeAround 200 police personnel were deployed at Shivaji Park even before the protestrsquos scheduled 4 pm startSenior police official told midday that police had requested that students not be detainedldquoToday we have requested the Joint CP sir not to detain any of the students who came as protestersrdquo he saidThe approach was in contrast to earlier demonstrations this week when students and activists were detained while attempting to gather around Shivaji ParkHowever with prohibitory orders under Section 163 in force sources said organisers could face legal action over Fridayrsquos gatheringCrowd swells four faintHundreds had gathered around the Meenatai Thackeray statue before 4 pm The numbers soon grew into hundreds and hundreds leaving parts of the gathering tightly packed At least four protesters were seen fainting amid the crowd and heat while three others were seen resting on a parapet near the park entrance Despite the size of the gathering this reporter could not locate a standby ambulance near the protest siteAsked about medical arrangements a police personnel said ldquoI think there is one on the right end of the streetrdquoA check of the area by this reporter however found no ambulance stationed thereProtestersspeakRahul Ramughade and Tejas Relekar both with disabilities attended the protest in their wheelchairs ldquoWe are here to support all the kids who have lost their lives to this as well as those kids who suffered with the reNEET All these previous days I couldnrsquot attend due to work Today I took a half day and decided to show up so that I can also show my support in this peaceful protestrdquo Ramughade saidlsquoDonrsquot dilute the issuersquoZeel Shah 22 who has participated in several Mumbai demonstrations supporting the CJPled movement in Delhi said protesters must ensure that the alleged NEET paper leak remains at the centre of the agitationThough Shah could not attend Fridayrsquos protest she said ldquoYes the protest is being derailed but that is because other causes and political parties are being attached to it I am trying my best to steer those who listen to me back on track towards the actual issuerdquo She maintained that protesters were not necessarily rallying behind CJP as a political organisation ldquoCJP is just a medium through which we are protesting If any other political party had come out to protest about the same the protesters would still join I believerdquo