"Rajsaheb says locals should be given priority in Maharashtra. If the burgeoning migrant population does not stop, locals will have no alternative but to go around with a begging bowl," Habia, a scrap dealer, said.

Zakir said north Indian activists of MNS feel that unchecked migration was causing trouble to locals. "All we want is that the flow of migrants to the state should stop so that locals living here since long, irrespective of their native language, can survive," he said. "Why can't UP and Bihar provide job opportunities to its people," Zakir asked.

He said Muslims are happy with MNS because its cadre helps them to solve their local problems and civic issues. Sharif Deshmukh, Deputy Vibhag Pramukh of Mumbadevi assembly constituency said MNS had enrolled over 400 women activists in the last few months.

"Educated Muslims from Konkan and Gujarat who have been living in the state for many generations and are involved in small businesses agree that they face trouble due to the continuous onslaught of migrants," Deshmukh said adding that UP Muslims living here for several years also say that migration needs to stop.

"Even women are supporting us because we help their children get enrolled in schools," he said adding that there are more than 20,000 Muslim activists of the MNS all over Mumbai.