• Source:JND
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Mumbai news: Mumbai's iconic Gateway of India will remain closed today, Sunday until further notice due to a protest planned by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance. The closure began at 10 am as a precautionary measure in response to the upcoming demonstration.

The MVA has organised the protest march against the Maharashtra Mahayuti government following the collapse of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg. The statue, which was 35 feet tall, fell on August 26, just eight months after its unveiling by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rajkot Fort.

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In anticipation of the protest, authorities have deployed a heavy police presence around the Gateway of India, a popular tourist destination that attracts thousands of visitors daily. The planned march will proceed from Hutatma Chowk to the Gateway of India, causing significant traffic disruptions in both the South and North channels, according to Mumbai traffic police.

Notably, the MVA has not yet received official permission from the police for the march and is still awaiting a decision. Despite this, the alliance intends to move forward with their plans to protest against the government's handling of the statue's collapse.

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On Saturday, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant met with the Additional Police Commissioner to discuss the situation. He was informed that police officers would be meeting to decide on the permission request. Currently, the MVA has only been granted permission to gather at Hutatma Chowk, not to march.

The incident involving the statue has sparked criticism from the opposition, who have called out the Mahayuti government. Although Prime Minister Modi offered an apology to the late warrior and his supporters, the opposition dismissed it as "conditional" and "political."