Can You Beat People Up? Raj Thackeray Is Hiring

Thackeray said he needed men who can beat people up, after his men were injured in a scuffle with hawkers

Raj Thackeray said he needed party workers who can beat people up, after a scuffle with hawkers and Congress workers left MNS’ men severely injured.

(Photo: Reuters)

A day after a scuffle between workers of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Congress, Raj Thackeray in a party meet said that he needs men in his party who can beat people up and not get beaten up, as reported by DNA.

I want workers who will beat up others. The Vikhroli incident is humiliating. I don’t want a repeat. If we can’t protect ourselves, how will we pick up people’s cause?

Raj Thackeray said in a meeting, as reported by <i>DNA</i>

Thackeray’ statement came after a scuffle between MNS workers and hawkers turned violent in Vikhroli over hawkers not putting up signboards in Marathi. According to DNA, Vikhroli's MNS ward chief Upendra Shewale went to Vikhroli to distribute pamphlets with Vinod Shinde, Vishwajit Dholam and a few other party workers, where a scuffle broke out between them. One of the shopkeepers allegedly beat Dholam with a paver block.

Sanjay Nirupam, senior Congress leader told the Scroll that Congress workers intervened after MNS workers started vandalising shops. He also warned Thackeray against goondaism in the city.

The Vikhroli police has arrested six people from MNS and Congress.

We have arrested Congress workers Abdul Ansari, the prime accused, and Rizwan Malik for attempt to murder and four MNS workers – JN Dandekar, Kisan Gavkar, Ashok Jadhav and Santosh Gawli – for rioting.

Sanjay More, Inspector, Vikhroli police station, told Scroll

According to The Indian Express, all MNS workers will be handed over the directives of the Bombay High Court identifying areas where hawkers could not operate, which they will be distributing to BMC and other concerned officers to pressurise them to act.

(With inputs from DNA, Scroll and The Indian Express)

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