Nashik: The war of words between Republican
Party of India's President Ramdas Athawale and MNS chief Raj
Thackeray is heating up, with the Dalit leader on Wednesday asking
why Raj did not oppose renaming of Victoria Terminus in Mumbai
as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.
Raj has opposed the proposal to rename Dadar railway
station in Mumbai as 'Chaityabhoomi' station, which has been
the demand by some Dalit groups. Chaityabhoomi, the memorial
of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, is located nearby.
Talking to reporters here, Athavale said, "Why Raj did
not make any comments when VT was renamed?"
Athavale also alleged that Raj quit Shiv Sena -- with
whom RPI is now allied -- because he was not made executive
president, and thus he "stabbed Sena chief (Bal Thackeray) in
the back".
Commenting on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit
Pawar's statement that Sena chief did not make any
contribution to Maharashtra, Athavale said Bal Thackeray had
contributed a lot to the movement for united (samyukta)
Maharashtra in 1950s.
RPI's alliance with Sena-BJP had created panic among
other political parties, he claimed.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, June 01, 2011, 22:29