Ahead of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray’s public rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai last week, where he reiterated his stand against north Indian migrants in the state, all political parties had joined to take a stand against his single-point agenda. And they all harped on how the MNS chief’s “son of the soil” propaganda was a violation of constitutional rights and a threat to national integration.

It started with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) western region chief Anil Kukde issuing a statement from the party’s Pune office last Wednesday condemning the anti-north Indian tirade and voicing views against parochial politics of “some leaders” without actually mentioning the name of the MNS chief.

Now, with the Shiv Sena and BJP too coming out openly to condemn the attacks on north Indians in the state, the Congress that has been condemning the attacks from the start feels its stand has been vindicated.

“The BJP, Shiv Sena and the RSS have veered around to our stand of many days ago when we organised the Uttar Bharatiya Ekta Manch, pleading with the stricken north Indian population in Pune not to flee the city. It’s a clear violation of constitutional rights and is also a threat to national integration,” said city Congress chief Abhay Chhajed.

Pune MP Suresh Kalmadi was at the forefront and organised dharnas at the Pune railway station in a bid to stop labourers of north Indian origin from leaving the city.

The Shiv Sena too spoke out against Raj’s stand. Pune city Sena chief Nana Wadekar said, “Only if the rights of the Marathi manoos are threatened or violated will the Sena raise its voice and not otherwise. Why should innocent taxi drivers or masons suffer?”

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