Mumbai: Overtly endorsing violence in Maharashtra, MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday urged his party followers to burn the newly-registered autorickshaws run by non-Marathis.
As per a report in Times of India, Thackeray also slammed BJP-Shiv Sena government for favouring Bajaj Auto in the matter.
"Now, think of the volume of kickbacks in the entire deal and you will realise that there is no difference between the Congress and the BJP. Only labels have changed. In that case, they (the Congress) were better,"
"As many as 70,000 new auto-rickshaws are set to ply in the city. Licences and driver's badges for nearly 70% of these rickshaws will be given to 'outsiders'. Our Marathi boys and girls are being ignored by the state government. As a mark of protest, MNS activists should set ablaze such auto-rickshaws," Thackeray was quoted as saying by TOI.
He further went on to say that if an MNS activist spots a new rickshaw with a new, shining number plate, he should request the passenger to step out and burn the auto.
BMC elections are scheduled to be held in 2017 and the outrage by MNS chief is seen as a political stunt to revive the party before the polls.
His party had poorly performed in the General and State elections.
