Raj Thackeray the leader of MNS, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, said that he would defy the orders of the police and lead them to Azad Maidan from the Girgaum Chowpatty in a march. The march would be for a stretch of 5 Kms, from the chowpatty to the Azad Maidan. Thackeray was permitted to conduct a rally at the Azad Maidan but he was not allowed to take the followers on a march.

This news follows the tragic incidents that happened early this month in a protest at the Azad Maidan where two people were killed while over 40 people were injured. A mob which was armed had attacked several policemen at the ground and injured several women too.

The mob had also set the vehicles on fire while they had protested against the ethnic violence in Assam.

Mr Thackeray has organized the rally seeking the resignation of R R Patil, the home minister and Commissioner Arup Patnaik for the riot that happened this month. MNS leaders have estimated that the strength of the rally would be around a lakh people police say that the strength could not be higher than 40,000 to 50,000 at most.

Mumbaikars have already prepared themselves for the large snarls of traffic around Azad Maidan in South Mumbai. All the roads leading to important offices and buildings such as the BSE etc would be blocked.

A police force of 15,000 men has been deployed in the case of any unforeseen mishaps on all major roads leading to south Mumbai and the major railways stations.

(AW- Anil)