Ignore allegations, Thackeray tells Amitabh

MUMBAI: Breaking his silence on Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray’s outbursts against north Indians, Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray on Wednesday said making parochial allegations against actor Amitabh Bachchan was plain foolishness. In a statement, Mr. Bal Thackeray said: “In the end Amitabh Bachchan is Amitabh Bachchan.” Mr. Bachchan should ignore all these silly allegations and those who speak against him. “Bachchan is not only my friend; we have family relations. Whenever he has the time he comes over and visits us. Our friendship has lasted for 40 years and there has been no strain in our relationship,” Mr. Bal Thackeray pointed out. Mr. Raj Thackeray had criticised Mr. Bachchan “for being the brand ambassador of Uttar Pradesh.” He had also said that the actor opened a school for girls in Uttar Pradesh when Mumbai had given him all his fame and glory Bachchan is a global superstar and is respected all over the world. He has always expressed his gratitude to Mumbai and the people for giving him fame," Thackeray said in comments exposing the divide in the Thackeray family.

Please tell Mr Raj Thackeray to concentrate on constructive politics instead of seeking cheap publicity through cheap methods. Mr Bachchan may invest his money in Timbuktu, how does it matter to Raj Thackeray? 
There are labourers who are working in Dubai, one does not expect them to develop Dubai.
There are so many ‘bhaiyas’ working in Mumbai and Punjab, does one expect them to put their money in the development of Mumbai? Mr Raj Thackeray, please concentrate on what is ailing Mumbai.

And surprisingly, he has found support in the Shiv Sena.

''Amitabh Bachchan chose to contest elections from Uttar Pradesh instead of Mumbai. If a person of such stature who is revered in Mumbai can feel patriotic about his own state, can't Raj Thackeray feel the same?'' said Raj Thackeray, President, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. And once more taking offence to this was not Bachchan himself but good friend and Samajwadi party MP Amar Singh.  ''Amitabh Bachchan is revered not just in India but all over the world. He doesn't need a certificate of loyalty from Raj Thackeray,'' said Amar Singh, MP, Samajwadi Party

The Shiv Sena, usually critical of Raj Thackeray, for once endorsed his views and deepened the divide between Maharshtrians and outsiders.

The political bedlam over who really is worth being a Mumbaikar has finally found its target in Amitabh Bachchan. 

A new political party hungry for publicity, a North Indian front in defence of its criticism and an ageing Maharashtrian force, trying to hold on to its own fort. 

Big B's house vandalised in Mumbai
Vandals tried to attack Amitabh Bachchan's residence 'Prateeksha' in Mumbai on Sunday night, hurling bottles into the compound. Security has been increased outside Bachchan's residence.

The attack came hours after supporters of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray attacked taxi drivers and others from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in Mumbai's Dadar area. Over the last few days, Thackeray had made public statements questioning Bachchan's loyalty to the state. The Bachchans don't live in 'Prateeksha' but in another house called 'Jalsa'. Bachchan family is originally from Uttar Pradesh while Jaya Bachchan is a Samajwadi party MP.

Raj Thackeray's supporters clash with SP workers in Mumbai
MUMBAI: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists clashed with Samajwadi Party supporters close to the venue of a rally organised by United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) on Sunday. 

The clash took place before the start of the rally at Shivaji Park where top leaders of UNPA, including Samajwadi Party chief and the group's Chairman Mulayam Singh Yadav, were scheduled to speak. 

Some members of the mob were detained and security at the venue in Central Mumbai stepped up, police said. 

Activists of both political parties assembled outside the Plaza Cinema in Dadar and indulged in stone pelting. Five cars were also damaged in the incident. 

The clash comes hours after actor and Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan's retaliation to MNS president Raj Thackeray's statement against her husband and superstar Amitabh Bachchan. 

Incidents of tearing of posters en-route to Shivaji Park in Central Mumbai allegedly by MNS activists to disrupt the rally have also been reported. 

A Latter to all Respected Marathis and Raj Thackeray

Mumbai molestation: Raj Thackeray men 'attack' TV van
MUMBAI: An outdoor broadcasting (OB) van of a TV news channel was damaged at Worli on Friday night allegedly by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers. 

The MNS activists were apparently upset with a report being aired by the network's Hindi channel, which had referred to MNS chief Raj Thackeray as 'gunehgaron ka sardar' (leader of criminals). 

Thackeray had recently led a delegation of youths accused in the New Year's Eve Juhu molestation case to meet deputy chief minister R R Patil. He reportedly told Patil that the real accused were missing and these boys were nabbed by the police probably giving in to media pressure. 

Ms. Bachchan told reporters that she knew of no other Thackeray other than Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray and his son Uddhav.

“I heard that Raj Thackeray owns huge property in Maharashtra ... in Mumbai ... Kohinoor Mills. If he is willing to donate land, we can start a school in the name of [daughter-in-law] Aishwarya here,” PTI quoted her as telling journalists here. 

“Mr. Bal Thackeray [Shiv Sena chief] is like a father to me and Mr. Uddhav [Sena Executive President] is his son. I don’t know any other Thackeray,” she said.

Lalu Yadav : Terming Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray as "just a child in politics", Railway Minister Lalu Prasad on Sunday made light of the former's advice to non- Maharashtrians saying it is better if people say "Jai Bharat". 

Talking to reporters after a function here, Lalu said Raj, whose party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has been targeting migrants from north India living in this metropolis, is a political novice.