Maharashtra has become hub of illegal immigrants: Raj Thackeray

Maharashtra has become hub of illegal immigrants: Raj Thackeray

MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday alleged that the August 11 Azad Maidan violence in Mumbai was pre-planned and that the police commissioner Arup Patnaik and state home minister RR Patil are going easy on the culprits.

Thackeray accused Patil of threatening him and added that Patil and Patnaik should resign if they have any shame.

He said that the Mumbai police commissioner released culprits of Azad Maidan violence and said it was pre-planned.

He also said that his rally at Azad Maidan was to show solidarity to the policemen and media persons who were assaulted during the Aug 11 violence.

He reiterated that his only religion is Maharashtra and that he will not allow any opposition to it.

Defying the Mumbai police, which refused him permission for a rally from Girgaum Chowpatty to Azad Maidan, Thackeray led his supporters' march against August 11 violence during a demonstration against alleged atrocities on Muslims in Assam and Myanmar.

TV reports said that thousands gathered along the protest venue throwing traffic out of gear and causing a 2km-traffic jam.

A file photo of MNS leader Raj Thackeray in Mumbai. AFP

The city police had on Monday night grudgingly permitted MNS to hold a rally but barred the party from taking out a five-km procession from Girgaum Chowpatty to Azad Maidan, as Mumbaikars braced for disruption of normal life.

A defiant MNS chief Raj Thackeray declared on Monday that whatever happened, the party would take out the protest procession, compelling the police to move into top gear.

"I will march irrespective of the permission. The state will have to bear the consequences if my rally is disrupted," Raj said on Monday.

Dismissing the police claim that the rally would result in traffic disruption, Raj questioned why the authorities gave Raza Academy permission to conduct a rally.

The police, however, did not make any attempt to detain either Thackeray or his supporters when they assembled in thousands at the Chowpatty for the march.

MNS supporters carrying the party's blue, saffron and green flags with its election symbol train engine embossed in the middle, gathered at Girgaum Chowpatty before Thackeray joined them in a 'symbolic' march after a brief stopover at Siddhivinayak temple.

Thackeray stepped out of his Toyota Land Cruiser briefly to speak to his supporters at the Chowpatty before quickly making his way out of the crowd in his vehicle.

Thousands of policemen have been deployed and traffic regulated for the MNS protest which has been peaceful so far.

His supporters beating drums and carrying flags scurried after the leader, who is said to be seeking to capture the Hindutva space hitherto occupied by the Shiv Sena.

However, CM Prithviraj Chavan said action would be taken if anything illegal was done.

Claiming that he had made this clear to Thackeray, Chavan said, "The protest is an attempt by him to get Hindutva space and score over the Sena."

Sources close to Chavan said he was not happy with Raj's attempt to get sympathy of the policemen by capitalising on the issue.

Two people were killed and over 40 injured on August 11 after a protest by several Muslim organisations to condemn the alleged attacks on Muslims in Myanmar and the Assam riots turned violent.

A policeman near a torched vehicle after a protest against Assam riots turned violent in Mumbai. PTI Photo

Wiser by the incident, strong security arrangements were put in place since early morning across Mumbai, including two highways slicing the city, all major roads leading to south Mumbai, major railway stations and other locations en route.

Road blocks at strategic locations, random checks of vehicles and traffic diversions are already in force in most parts of the city in an attempt to prevent any untoward incident.

The MNS rally would demand the resignation of state home minister RR Patil and police commissioner Arup Patnaik for their alleged failure during the August 11 rally by various Muslim organisations.

Though MNS leaders have claimed that over one lakh people will participate in the procession, police expect around 40,000-50,000 people to march from Girgaum Chowpatty to Marine Drive flyover and proceed to Azad Maidan via Metro Cinema junction.

Joint police commissioner (law & order) Rajneesh Sheth declined to disclose the actual police presence for the MNS procession, but official sources said around 12,000 policemen supervised by three additional police commissioners would be deployed.

(With IANS, PTI inputs)