The Maharashtra govt is dragging its feet over executing an arrest warrant against MNS chief issued
by a Jharkhand court
Mumbai, October 20
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray remains unrepentant a day after his activists ran riot in different parts of the state beating up candidates from other parts of the country who appeared to take a railway examination.
As politicians cutting across party lines demanded a crackdown against the MNS, Raj Thackeray was virtually gloating. Addressing a rally at Ratnagiri today, he insisted that violence was the only workable method for getting across one's message. “Our leaders are not like the British who could be swayed by non-violence. They are thick-skinned and they need to be conveyed messages in a different manner,” Raj Thackeray said.
He went on to chide party workers who were on a hunger strike in pursuit of local issues. “You can starve to death, but no one will pay you attention,” Thackeray told them.
On the other hand, the state administration has done nothing to stop Raj Thackeray's speeches thereby giving credence to the speculation that he is receiving support from the ruling Congress and Nationalist Congress Party. Raj Thackeray is seen as a counter force to the Shiv Sena which has been receiving good response from the people. He is now holding his political rallies in areas that are seen as the stronghold of Shiv Sena leader and cousin Uddhav Thackeray.
With the ruling front facing a severe bout of anti-incumbency, observers say Raj Thackeray could be propped to cut into the vote-share of the Shiv Sena.
Though the state government has come in for flak from the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, allies of the ruling front
in the Central government, nothing is being done to rein in Raj Thackeray.
In fact, the state government is even dragging its feet over executing an arrest warrant against Raj Thackeray issued by a court in Jharkhand. Even while news of the arrest warrant reaching the state government was being flashed on news channels, Raj Thackeray dared the state government to arrest him.
Mumbai police officials say a decision to arrest Raj Thackeray would be taken in a week’s time since the MNS leader is touring the Konkan.
The warrant issued by the Jharkhand court has ordered Thackeray to appear before it on November 17. The court ordered Thackeray to appear before it regarding a public speech he made against north Indians in February last.
Nagpur (Agencies): Meanwhile, even as Raj Thackeray dared the government to execute the non-bailable warrant from Jamshedpur against him, the police
today arrested over 150 MNS workers following assaults on non-Maharashtrian candidates appearing for railway recruitment examinations.
In Mumbai, Raj has moved Jharkhand High Court seeking a stay on a non-bailable arrest warrant issued by a court in Jamshedpur for making allegedly derogatory remarks about Biharis.The High Court in Ranchi has posted the matter for hearing on October 25.
