‘We Are Shareholders Too’: On Cam, Maratha Quota Protesters Try To Enter BSE Building

Last Updated:September 01, 2025, 14:19 IST

Protesters said their intention was not to disrupt trading but to underline how deeply the agitation could impact every sector, including the financial hub of the country

Supporters of activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who is on hunger strike demanding Maratha reservation, gather outside Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus to join his agitation. (PTI)

A video from South Mumbai, showing a group of Maratha protesters reaching the gates of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on Dalal Street, went viral on Monday morning. With saffron scarves around their necks and placards in hand, they were seen raising slogans in support of activist Manoj Jarange-Patil and demanding Maratha reservation. The incident comes on the fourth day of Jarange-Patil’s hunger strike at Azad Maidan, where thousands of protestors have gathered from across Maharashtra.

Since his arrival in Mumbai on August 29 with lakhs of supporters, the city has witnessed heavy crowds, traffic congestion, and sporadic protest marches in South and Central Mumbai.

In the now-viral clip, a handful of protesters attempted to enter the iconic stock exchange building but were stopped by security guards. Confronted, the protesters argued that they had as much right to visit the BSE as anyone else. Speaking with reporters outside BSE, one of the protesters said: “We are shareholders too. We have every right to see the stock market building. Our money is also invested here." Another protester added that their intention was not to disrupt trading but to underline how deeply the agitation could impact every sector, including the financial hub of the country. “Our movement can affect anything. We just wanted to see the market’s condition," he explained.

The moment quickly escalated into sloganeering outside the building, with chants in favour of Jarange-Patil echoing through the narrow lanes of Dalal Street. Curious office-goers and onlookers gathered at a distance, filming the scene on their phones.

Meanwhile, support for protesters at Azad Maidan continues to pour in from villages across Maharashtra. Truckloads of food supplies—ranging from rice, wheat, and spices to biscuits and pickles—have reached the protest site. Farmers and villagers say they are determined to ensure that those camped in Mumbai do not face hunger as the agitation stretches on.

Jarange-Patil, addressing his followers earlier in the day, alleged that plainclothes policemen wearing saffron scarves had infiltrated the protest to mislead participants and send vehicles back. He demanded that such officers be suspended and warned that MLAs and MPs who ignore the Maratha cause will face strong public backlash in their constituencies.

Mayuresh Ganapatye

Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa...Read More

Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa...

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September 01, 2025, 14:19 IST

News india ‘We Are Shareholders Too’: On Cam, Maratha Quota Protesters Try To Enter BSE Building

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