SBI holds exam as cops keep MNS men at bay

MUMBAI: Ignoring Maharashtra Navnirman Sena threat, the State Bank of India went ahead with its written recruitment exams in Maharashtra on Sunday.

An MNS delegation met the bank authorities on Saturday and threatened to agitate if locals weren’t given preference while filling up the bank’s vacant posts. Anticipating that the MNS activists would try to disrupt the exams, the police had beefed up the security at all the examination centres in the state.

A senior home department official said police were instructed to deal strictly with the MNS had they tried to disrupt the exams. "Last year the MNS activists were successful in disrupting the railway board exams as the administration was caught unawares. This time the force was geared up to deal with any such attempt to disturb the law and order situation," he added.

MNS spokesperson and MLA, Nitin Sardesai said they (MNS workers ) found most of the candidates to be locals during a surprise check conducted at various examination centres . "It’s not necessary that every time the party has to restore to violence to convey its feelings," he added.

In October 2008 too the MNS workers were involved in the similar activities . The MNS workers had then attacked railway examination centres in suburban Mumbai forcing the board to call off the exam at many centres in the city and its outskirts.