Can't beat them in exams, so beat them up: MNS

NEW DELHI: Raj Thackeray-led MNS activists on Sunday went on a rampage and attacked 13 railway board examination centres in suburban Mumbai to protest against “inadequate representation” to locals and chased away candidates from north India.

At least 10 MNS activists of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) were arrested from Dombivali and Kalyan for disrupting the exam and preventing candidates from appearing, police said.

THE attack prompted the two leading UPA players—the RJD and the LJP—to demand strict action against Mr Raj Thackeray and his outfit.

With elections to the Lok Sabha to be held soon, the attack invited a quick reaction from RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his cabinet colleague Ram Vilas Paswan, who too hails from Bihar. Chief minister Nitish Kumar, on the other hand, spoke to his Maharashtra counterpart Vilasrao Deshmukh and urged him to provide protection to the migrants from Bihar.

Hoping to capitalise on the issue by projecting themselves as the real champions of the Bihari cause, the two UPA partners, however, tried to outdo each other in seeking strict against the MNS. The railway minister demanded a ban on the MNS, and described its chief Raj Thackeray as a “mental case”.

“I strongly condemn the incident. There should be strong action against that party...MNS should be banned. Thackeray family has become a chronic problem for Maharashtra and Raj Thackeray, in particular, has become a mental case,” Mr Lalu Prasad said.

I strongly condemn the incident. There should be strong action against that party...MNS should be banned. Thackeray family has become a chronic problem for Maharashtra and Raj Thackeray, in particular, has become a mental case,” Mr Lalu Prasad said.

In an attempt to shore up his flagging electoral fortunes and to set his party apart from the Congress, Mr Prasad publicly acknowledged that the coalition government in Maharashtra has been soft on the MNS. He said, “as far the government’s action till date is concerned, it has been soft on them.

It should take action as too much has already happened there.” Of course, the RJD leader did not miss the chance to take a potshot at the Sangh parivar. “They are not workers. They are looters. Organisations like MNS, Bajrang Dal, VHP and RSS should be banned.”

It should take action as too much has already happened there.” Of course, the RJD leader did not miss the chance to take a potshot at the Sangh parivar. “They are not workers. They are looters. Organisations like MNS, Bajrang Dal, VHP and RSS should be banned.” Not to be left behind, steel minister Ram Vilas Paswan said he will raise the issue in the next Cabinet meeting. Interestingly, the LJP chief has made an oblique reference to the lack of action against the MNS, despite repeated transgressions.

The flurry of statements also includes one from the minister for food processing industries and Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay. This time round, Mr Sahay has demanded the Congress-NCP coalition government in the state should treat those responsible for the attacks as criminals.