MNS activists target Shiv Sena leader's institute

MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena, which claims to be the first political party to raise the issue of Marathi "asmita" (pride), was in for some embarrassment as activists from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) targeted senior Sena leader Manohar Joshi's technical institute—Kohinoor—in Ahmednagar for having an English signboard. The MNS party workers on Saturday stormed the institute, situated near the main bus stand in Ahmednagar, and shouted slogans such as "Jai Maharashtra" before indulging in vandalism. The demonstrators condemned the Sena for its double standards and waved MNS flags before leaving the place. An MNS spokesperson said, "Joshi had addressed mediapersons on Friday wherein he supported the Marathi signboard issue and said that every shop owner should abide by the law which required nameboards in Marathi. But his own institute is violating the government order." Incidentally, Joshi and MNS chief Raj Thackeray are believed to be partners in real estate development. They had successfully bid for the auction of Kohinoor Mill land at Shivaji Park. Manohar Joshi had told mediapersons on Friday that he had directed all his branches of Kohinoor institute to ensure that they display Marathi signboards. "To the best of my knowledge, all the signboards are in Marathi," he said. "If there is any English board at any place, I will see to it that it is replaced immediately and a Marathi signboard comes up prominently in its place." Joshi was unavailable for comment on Saturday. The police claimed that they had detained a few persons in the Ahmednagar incident and the situation was brought under control. The Shiv Sena had in the past claimed that the Marathi Manus mudda (issue of sons of the soil) was originally their ideology. The MNS has been aggressive on this issue in recent months, with the attack on north Indians earlier this year, the vandalism of shops in connection with the Marathi signboards issue in July and August, and the attack on candidates from north India appearing for Central government jobs at a Mulund centre recently.
source:TOI