MNS chief asks party workers to ensure sale; says deliberate attempts being made to fuel divide between two communities
Raj Thackeray questioned the true values of freedom on Independence Day following the KDMC meat ban. PIC/RANE ASHISH
THE Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief, Raj Thackeray, has slammed the BJP-led state government over the ban on sale of meat on Independence Day and accused it of deliberately fuelling divides between two communities through subtly encouraging practices like feeding pigeon, and the backdoor push to make Hindi compulsory from Std I to Std V in schools across the state.
Reacting to the Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) decision to ban the sale of meat today, Raj questioned the true values of freedom on Independence Day. “The government and municipal corporation should not decide on who should eat what. I have asked my party workers to ensure the sale of meat is carried out on the day,” Raj said.
On Thursday, Raj escalated his attack on the BJP, saying, “Mangal Prabhat Lodha is a minister who represents Maharashtra and not a particular community. Lodha and Jain community leaders should respect the court order. Medical experts have been talking about health hazards due to pigeons. The government should take this into consideration, instead of making decisions on emotional grounds.”
Asked about a Jain leader seeking his mediation in the issue, Raj said, “The question is not about mediating. The court has given directives in this case. Everyone should respect court orders. Instructions from the court must be followed.”
Recalling an earlier controversy stirred by the Mahayuti government (BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar-headed NCP) to give a backdoor push to Hindi (Std I to Std V) across all schools in Maharashtra, Raj asserted that following a united protest by Marathi people and political parties, the decision had to be called off. “I think deliberate attempts have been made to create a divide between two communities. Meat ban, pigeon feeding, Hindi language… now one doesn't know what they (read as the government) will come up with next,” Raj wondered.
The MNS chief further expressed his displeasure with the police and government over biased treatment. He claimed that the way in which police initiated action against those protesting on Wednesday (read as Marathi Ekikaran Committee), on similar lines, action should be taken against those (read allegedly members of the Jain community) who forcefully entered the area and damaged the tarpaulin put up by the BMC to prevent pigeons from entering Dadar kabutarkhana. “People came with knives and other sharp objects and damaged the cover put up by the BMC. But the police did not take any action against them. Those who took the law into their own hands need to be booked according to the rules. The police cannot take action against one group and spare others,” Raj claimed, calling for action against the group that protested in the streets of Dadar and escaped police action.
Reacting to Raj’s statements, Lodha reiterated that he does not endorse or support any form of violence or statements encouraging people to take the law into their own hands over the pigeon feeding row. The controversy escalated after a Jain spiritual leader reportedly stated that, if necessary, they would not hesitate to take up arms to defend the right to feed pigeons.
An MNS-Sena UBT alliance?
MNS chief Raj Thackeray, while addressing his party workers at a meeting at the MIG Club in Bandra on Thursday, said that it is only the MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) that hold real command and influence in Mumbai, and no other party enjoys the same power.
The statement is seen as two messages from Raj to those in power corridors. One is the possibility of the MNS and UBT Sena coming together for the Mumbai civic polls; the second is a veiled attack on rival political parties, especially the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, whose leaders have been making statements like Thackeray is no longer the political brand it once used to be, during the era of the late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.
During the party workers' meeting, Raj even asked party workers to gear up for the civic elections and start working on the election voter list. “Recent controversy over irregularities on the voter list cannot be ignored. Our party workers should start working on the electoral list and identify irregularities,” the MNS chief instructed.
Reacting to Raj’s statement, Fadnavis said, “Whatever other party leaders may say, the fact is that from 2014, it is the BJP which has been the largest party… and the BJP will continue to be the largest party, including in Mumbai.”
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