Mumbai: Over 100,000 activists led by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray, marched in a mega-procession to demand the ouster of Pakistani-Bangladeshi infiltrators living in the country, here on Sunday afternoon. Accompanied by the MNS top brass, the Thackerays headed the procession from Girgaum Chowpatty as it wend its way to the historic Azad Maidan, around 4 kms away, where more enthusiastic crowds awaited Thackeray, who is expected to address a rally later.
Earlier, starting from his Shivaji Park home, Thackeray, wife Sharmila, their son and MNS leader Amit Thackeray, first stopped to perform an ‘aarti’ and avail ‘darshan’ of Lord Ganesha at the famed 220-year old Siddhivinayak Temple in Prabhadevi and a ‘darshan’ of his uncle and Shiv Sena founder the late Balasaheb Thackeray’s memorial, before proceeding to Girgaum Chowpatty.
Thousands of MNS activists from all over Maharashtra have been trooping to Mumbai since Saturday night to join the procession, by public or chartered buses, private vehicles, trains and even motorcycles, braving the mild chill in the atmosphere.
Marching peacefully and in an orderly fashion, many raised slogans demanding that the illegal migrants living in the country should be driven away as they are a drain on the country’s economy, resources and jobs, besides posing threats to national security.
However, Raj Thackeray has made it clear that the morcha is not in support of the CAA-NRC-NPR which have created massive socio-political upheavals in the country over two months.
This is the MNS’ first public show of strength after it donned a new ‘avatar’ on January 23, with a new flag, symbol, ‘Hindutva’ agenda and right-wing direction as it struggles for survival to create its own political space in Maharashtra politics, particularly after the recently changed state political scenario. (IANS)
