MUMBAI — Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray has challenged the Congress party-led Democratic Front government to arrest him for inciting anti-north Indian violence in the state.
On Saturday evening, Raj justified the attacks and threw a challenge to the government: “Arrest me if you have the courage.”
He said he would not seek pre-arrest bail. The Hindu leader was addressing a news conference to which the English and Hindi language media were barred. Only journalists from the Marathi language media were invited.
Justifying the attacks by his party workers on migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar states, he said what happened in the last 10 days was just reaction. “The next time it will be action.” Such reaction would continue if people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar tried to show their muscle power and strength in Maharashtra, Raj said.
“I refuse to withdraw my comments criticizing Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan. I have the complete support of all Maharashtrians and do not fear arrest,” he said.
Defending the terror let loose by his party workers, Raj said: “Let the people and leaders of UP and Bihar take note that we will retaliate against their aggression. The violence by the MNS workers was due to the provocation by Samajwadi Party leaders Amar Singh and Abu Asim Azmi and RJD leader and federal Railways Minister Lulu Prasad Yadav. We will hit back without mercy and would retaliate strongly if the north Indian leaders use aggressive language, Raj warned.
Portraying himself as a champion of the Maratha cause, Raj said: “Even if the whole world opposes us, I and my party will continue to protect the Marathi culture and Maharashtrian people from UP and Bihari migrants.”
On Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray calling him a “chicken with no market value after bird flu,” Raj said: “If I am not important, why do they dedicate so much space to discuss me in their mouthpiece Saamna?”
Adding fuel to the fire, Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray yesterday said that his party would not allow migrants to be brought to Mumbai to work on the modernization of the Mumbai international airport.
