Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leaders were seen singing different tunes regarding the permission for the pro-Marathi protest rally at Mira Road. While Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam claimed that permission for the rally was denied due to concerns over potential law and order issues along the proposed route, his party and government colleague, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik maintained that the government had not issued any instruction to stop the rally.

As pro-Marathi supporters began gathering at Mira Road to participate in the protest despite police denying permission, the police started detaining participants. Tensions escalated on Tuesday morning, and while speaking to the media outside Vidhan Bhavan, Kadam said, “The proposed route of the rally could have led to tension. Hence, permission for the protest was denied.”

The protest was called by the ‘Marathi Ekikaran Samiti’ in response to a rally held by local traders in Mira Road after an MNS worker allegedly slapped a shopkeeper for not speaking in Marathi. The counter rally was supported by the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT).