Stray incidents of violence in Mumbai

MUMBAI: Minor incidents of violence were reported from various parts of the city for the second day on Monday following Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray’s tirade against North Indians, even as Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh filed a First Information Report against Mr. Thackeray and others for “issuing a threat to his life.”

Forty people were arrested in connection with Sunday’s clashes and 20 are in preventive detention, according to State Home Minister R.R. Patil.

Condemnation

There has been widespread condemnation of the MNS stand.

On Sunday night, vandals threw two bottles into Hollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan’s house, according to a television report, but the police have not confirmed it. Angry MNS activists attacked and burnt theatres in Thane and Nashik which were showing Bhojpuri films.

Shishir Shinde, MNS general secretary, said Sunday’s clashes were triggered by a taxi load of Samajwadi Party supporters raising anti-Raj Thackeray slogans on way to attend a United National Progressive Alliance rally at Shivaji Park.

“Our workers retaliated and chased them away but we caught the taxiwallah,” he said. In the ensuing clashes, several people, including taxi drivers and bhel puri stall owners, were injured and many small stalls destroyed in the area.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone One) Brajesh Singh said Mr. Amar Singh, who filed the FIR, alleged that he had watched Mr. Thackeray on television issuing a threat to his life.

A case has been registered under Section 506(2) of the Indian Penal Code for threatening to cause death. The police would have to watch the news clip and verify the complaint first.

Since over a week, Mr. Thackeray has been making statements about the need for north Indians to respect the culture of Maharashtra. He has been saying that people coming from outside Maharashtra should not celebrate chhat puja and only stick to State festivals. Last Friday he targeted Mr. Bachchan for being a brand ambassador of Uttar Pradesh and opening a school for girls there, instead of giving something back to Mumbai which had given him so much fame.

However, Mr. Shinde clarified that the MNS was not against North Indians at all. “But you don’t insult the culture and pride of Maharashtra. We need answers from Amitabh Bachchan on why he chose to set up schools in his home State and why not here.”

Asked how North Indians were insulting the culture and pride of Maharashtra, Mr. Shinde said that under the pretext of chhat puja, the North Indians wanted to display their strength and challenge local people. It is a political stunt,” he said.

PTI reports:

Police said a group of persons were arrested as they attempted to burn an effigy of Mr. Thackeray in the Chirag Nagar area on Monday. Suspected Samajwadi Party activists tore-off some posters put up by the MNS in Colaba.

Mr. Thackeray distanced himself from the attack on Mr. Bachchan’s home, which Mr. Amar Singh termed an act of cowardice. Mr. Bachchan, who was in Jaipur for a film shoot, declined to comment. Mr. Thackeray, however, said “it is not necessary to use violence always, if provoked we will retaliate.”

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said stern action would be taken against the guilty because the violence should not spread. “There will be full protection for those living in Mumbai.”

The Union Home Ministry was also monitoring the situation even as Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal asked the Maharashtra government to tackle the situation in all seriousness and take proper steps to maintain law and order.

News Source : Samachar