Why Was MNS Stopped From Mira Road Protest? CM Fadnavis Shares The Real Reason

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 08: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) planned a protest march in Thane. MNS is lead by led by Raj Thackeray. The march was a response to traders protesting the MNS attack on a shopkeeper who did not speak Marathi. But before it could begin, the MNS protest faced a sudden halt. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said permission was not denied, but the issue was with the route. According to him, the route the MNS wanted was unsafe and could have disturbed peace. With this concern, the police stopped the rally before it could grow.

Why Mira Road Was the Flashpoint

The Mira Road area was at the centre of the MNS plan. However, CM Fadnavis explained the route passed near a very crowded place—Mira Road railway station. With morning rush and people gathering there, it wasn’t the right place for a protest. The police feared that a protest in such a busy area might lead to big problems. That’s why officials had offered another route at Ghodbunder Road. But MNS workers refused this change. As a result, prohibitory orders were put in place to stop any kind of group protest.

Did Police Have Advance Warnings?

CM Fadnavis also spoke about security inputs. He said the police commissioner of Mira Bhayandar had shared alerts. There were specific signs that some people among the protesters may try to create trouble. That is why the police acted quickly. MNS workers still went ahead, ignoring the orders. This led to their detention. The idea was not to silence anyone, but to avoid any harm. In today’s time, when small sparks can turn into big fires, the police acted early to maintain peace in the area.

Traders Got Permission—But Why Not MNS?

This question was raised by MNS leaders. CM Fadnavis replied that traders got permission because they agreed to the general route shared by police. MNS, on the other hand, insisted on one fixed location—Mira Road. When the crowd flow is already heavy in that area, allowing a protest becomes difficult. He said the police did not treat anyone differently. The aim was public safety. When law and order are at risk, decisions are made not by politics, but by practical ground-level concerns.

MNS Workers Stand Strong

Before the arrests, MNS Mumbai president Sandeep Deshpande said that the police wanted to shift their protest away from Mira Road. He believed this was unfair. He claimed all MNS workers across the state would gather until permission was granted. But the police stayed firm. Over 12 busloads of MNS workers were detained to avoid further problems. While MNS claims their fight is for “Marathi pride,” the state believes rules must apply to all. The protest might not have happened, but the language issue still echoes strongly in Maharashtra.