NCP workers attack MNS chief Raj Thackeray's convoy, police resort to lathicharge

Ahmednagar: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's convoy was attacked by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) workers on Tuesday at Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district. NCP workers stone pelted at the convoy and also waved black flags.

Police resorted to lathicharge to control the situation. No injuries have been reported so far.

Thackeray has been critical of the NCP leaders in his speeches, recent example being the Solapur tour. Backing Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vasant Dhoble, who was shunted out from his Vakola posting amid protests after a hawker died during an eviction drive, Raj Thackeray had warned hawkers against holding a rally at Azad Maidan on January 24.

$NCP workers attack MNS chief Raj Thackeray\'s convoy$

Thackeray has been critical of the NCP leaders in his speeches, recent example being the Solapur tour.

"If hawkers organise a morcha at Azad Maidan and try to show their power, the MNS will show its power on Mumbai's footpaths," he had said. Opposing Dhoble's transfer, Thackeray had said it would demoralise the police force. "Who will dare act when there is the fear of transfer? If action is to be taken against 'outsiders' and hawkers, which policeman would come forward?" Thackeray had said.

The NCP had then hit out at at Thackeray, accusing him of trying to reap political gains from Dhoble's transfer. NCP spokesman Nawab Malik said that hawkers were poor people and they could not be categorised as Marathi or non-Marathi. "The right to peaceful protest is guaranteed under our constitution and nobody can take the law into their hands," Malik said, criticising Raj Thackeray for warning hawkers against taking out a morcha against ACP Dhoble.

(With Additional Inputs From PTI)

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