Raj Thackeray unfazed by critcism, justifies attack
Raj, who heads the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNA), also said that attempts to what he called harm Marathi culture from 'UP and Bihar' will not be tolerated henceforth.
By PTI |
MUMBAI: Unfazed by the widespread criticism for the violence against North Indians perpetrated by his cadre, MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday justified the attacks saying it was the result of a "build up" of anger among the Marathi people against the happenings over the recent past.
Raj, who heads the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNA), also said that attempts to what he called harm Marathi culture from 'UP and Bihar' will not be tolerated henceforth.
"I am not immature to understand what is happening around," he told a press conference at the party head office where Hindi and English news channels were barred.
"Things like Chhath Puja are just a show of strength for the people from UP and Bihar with intention of harming the Marathi culture. I cannot tolerate such `dadagiri' and if any attempts are made by them to tarnish the Marathi culture, they will be met with resistance."
Raj, against whom police are contemplating action for promoting enmity on grounds of region and language, described the violence as, "an apt and violent reaction" and threatened of similar consequences "if leaders from UP and Bihar come here and make such speeches".
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has initiated a sustained campaign over the past week targeting North Indian taxi drivers, their offices, street food vendors, passengers on trains and theatres showing Bhojpuri films across Maharashtra. The violence erupted in the run-up to a UNPA rally addressed by Mulayam Singh Yadav on Sunday at the historic Shivaji Park.
When asked if he had started the campaign to checkmate his cousin and Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav, he said such allegations were nonsense.
Raj also vented his ire at the the news channels saying its representatives are "keeping aside" the journalist in them and becoming "anti-Maharashtra, regional" in their reporting for some were barred from attending.
Raj, who heads the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNA), also said that attempts to what he called harm Marathi culture from 'UP and Bihar' will not be tolerated henceforth.
"I am not immature to understand what is happening around," he told a press conference at the party head office where Hindi and English news channels were barred.
"Things like Chhath Puja are just a show of strength for the people from UP and Bihar with intention of harming the Marathi culture. I cannot tolerate such `dadagiri' and if any attempts are made by them to tarnish the Marathi culture, they will be met with resistance."
Raj, against whom police are contemplating action for promoting enmity on grounds of region and language, described the violence as, "an apt and violent reaction" and threatened of similar consequences "if leaders from UP and Bihar come here and make such speeches".
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has initiated a sustained campaign over the past week targeting North Indian taxi drivers, their offices, street food vendors, passengers on trains and theatres showing Bhojpuri films across Maharashtra. The violence erupted in the run-up to a UNPA rally addressed by Mulayam Singh Yadav on Sunday at the historic Shivaji Park.
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When asked if he had started the campaign to checkmate his cousin and Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav, he said such allegations were nonsense.
Raj also vented his ire at the the news channels saying its representatives are "keeping aside" the journalist in them and becoming "anti-Maharashtra, regional" in their reporting for some were barred from attending.
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