Sena demands name change of BSE

MUMBAI: After targeting a leading newspaper, an elite school and a textile major's showroom for usage of the word "Bombay" in them, Shiv Sena on Tuesday protested at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) demanding a name change.

Twenty-four workers from the party and its students wing Bhartiya Vidyarthi Sena who had come in two separate batches were arrested today outside BSE under provisions of the Bombay Police Act for violating prohibitory orders.

"The first batch of activists came at around 1230 hours and were picked up before they could protest. The second batch, which came at 1430 hours, indulged in sloganeering and were immediately taken away," said a senior police officer.

Sena activists have been protesting since Sunday after a stinging article by MP and executive editor of party mouthpiece 'Saamna' Sanjay Raut in which he said that the usage of the word "Bombay" even after the city was renamed is an affront to the Marathi pride.

BVS chief Abhijit Panse, who was in the second group, told the police that he had an appointment with the BSE officials and went into the multi-storeyed building situated in south Mumbai's Dalal Street.

Panse submitted a memorandum to the chief security officer demanding a change of name for the country's premier stock exchange to "Mumbai Stock Exchange".

"He came out after the BSE officials asked him for time to examine the legal aspects and we later arrested him," said the official.

All the 24 arrested accused were granted bail at the police station on a personal bond, the officer added.
Seventeen party workers were earlier arrested for allegedly targeting "Bombay Times", "Bombay Scottish School" and "Bombay Dyeing" on Sunday.