A day after four of its leaders were suspended for unruly behavior in the House, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) said the newcomers were given harsh punishment for fighting for the Marathi cause.

“We have been elected by the people for taking up the Marathi cause. We were trying to ensure respect for Marathi and we were dealt with unjustly and unfairly by the House. We will go before the people and ask them to decide,” said Shishir Shinde, senior MNS leader and one of the four suspended members of the party.

“Whatever we did was appreciated by Raj (Thackeray) as it was an act upholding the cause we have fought for. He has asked us to apologise to the woman MLA who was unintentionally assaulted during the incident,” said Shinde.

Vasant Gite, Nashik MNS leader who was also suspended, said that the party considered that the House had taken a wrong action. “If they don’t revoke the decision, we will take a stand as a party over the unjust and one-sided actions by the House.”

Shinde and Gite along with party MLAs Ramesh Wanjale and Ram Kadam had stopped Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi from taking oath in Hindi and resorted to unruly behaviour. They were suspended on the first day of the newly-elected Assembly for breach of privilege and for assault of a woman MLA, namely Meenakshi Patil. Kadam said that if their

suspension continued for four years it would be unjust for the residents of Ghatkopar who elected him. “The water crisis in this area is the biggest concern. That was going to be my first work as MLA. Now all the work will be stopped.”

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