Mumbai: Chief of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Raj Thackeray said on Tuesday that his party would go ahead with the state-wide street blockade on Wednesday, hours after police served a notice to him warning against participating in the agitation.
The supporters of Thackeray have vandalised scores of toll plazas across the state over the last fortnight undeterred by the notice and said traffic on the highways would be stopped from 9 am as police braced to prevent any law and order problem due to the stir.
MNS chief said that said life in cities would not be affected which gives some relief for commuters.
He said, “The rasta roko will be from 9 am tomorrow at all toll highways in the state. We have decided to exclude schools and colleges from the stir in view of exams. The cities won’t be affected by the stir.”
While adding a morcha would be taken out from Girgaum to Mantralaya on February 21, MNS leader said, “A person from the state government was in touch with me on phone requesting me to call off the stir.”
He said, “If the government does not budge by democratic means, then we have our way and you all will see it.”
Deven Bharti, IG (Law & Order) said, Maharashtra police, however, decided to press into service contingents of Rapid Action Force and State Reserve Police besides over 1.8 lakh personnel of the state police to prevent protests.
He said, “Adequate security arrangements have been made and all district police chiefs have been instructed to initiate strict action against demonstrators.”
A senior police officer said, “A notice under section 149 of the CrPC has been served to Raj Thackeray this morning, asking him to respect the law of the land and refrain from taking up any activity that would cause a law and order problem.”
Notify that MNS chief is facing multiple cases for instigating his party cadres to vandalise toll booths, had said on Sunday at a rally in Pune that he was determined to go ahead with the stir until the government has made collection of road tax “transparent” and even dared the police to arrest him.
Mumbai’s acting Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale said police will deal with the situation firmly even though Raj said life in cities would remain unaffected.
He said, “All leave have been cancelled so that maximum deployment can be made. We will ensure that no untoward incident takes place. There may be some vandalism but we will ensure the safety and security of the common man.”
Bureau Report
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