Mumbai — Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has clarified the controversy surrounding the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s (MNS) protest against Mira Road traders over a language dispute, asserting that the state government did not deny permission for the protest.
“It would be wrong to say that we did not permit the protest at Mira Road,” Fadnavis said. “I have spoken to the commissioner, who told me that the police did not refuse permission for the protest. They had asked for permission for a meeting, which we were ready to approve.”
The Chief Minister explained that the disagreement stemmed from the proposed protest route. “They wanted to hold a protest march on a route where it was not possible to do so. We asked them to take an alternate route, but they did not agree. It would be wrong to say that they were not given permission.”
The remarks come after the MNS alleged that their protest was unfairly blocked by authorities, intensifying political debate around the language issue and freedom to demonstrate.