MNS Protest Escalates: Workers Clash With Police During Marathi Pride March in Mira Road

A massive protest led by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) rocked Mira Road in Mumbai, as thousands of party workers took to the streets in a show of Marathi pride and resistance. The march, which aimed to culminate at Balaji Garden, was met with heavy police resistance. Despite police barricades and multiple detentions, MNS workers continued their march, raising slogans in support of the Marathi identity.Tensions flared as MNS leader Avinash Jadhav was reportedly detained from his residence in Thane early in the morning. Police attempts to halt the protest led to dramatic scenes, with several workers sitting on the roads in defiance. Visuals from the protest show large-scale detentions, clashes, and a heavy police presence struggling to contain the growing crowd.Local political leaders, including BJP MLA and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader Pratap Sarnaik, criticized the police for using force to suppress the protest. The MNS, which has long championed the Marathi cause, organized the protest in response to recent remarks and perceived marginalization of Marathi voices.With the Shiv Sena-BJP government under scrutiny for its handling of the situation, the protest has now become a flashpoint in the broader debate on Marathi identity in Maharashtra.