Click to play videoMumbai: The Shiv Sena has warned Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi against visiting Mumbai, who will visit the maximum city on Friday.
Mumbai Police and state administration are on high alert to ensure Rahul's visit goes off smoothly.
The war of words between Rahul Gandhi and Shiv Sena-Maharashtra Navnirman Sena over the issue of North Indians in Maharashtra has turned ugly in the last few days.
While Rahul said that Mumbai belonged to all Indians, Shiv Sena and MNS have been claiming that the city was only for Maharashtrians.
Shiv Sena and MNS have used words like "Romeputra" (Son of Rome), "Italian prince" to describe Rahul.
But despite the threats from Shiv Sena, Congress is pulling out all stops to ensure Rahul's security.
“He is a SPG protectee. Both the SPG and the state police will provide security. So we are not worried about it,” says Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan.
The Congress General Secretary will be arriving at the Santa Cruz airport at 1030 hrs IST.
He will meet college students at the Bhaidas hall in Vile Parle at around 1100 hrs IST before going to Ramabai Nagar in Ghatkopar, to interact with youth from the nearby slums. Rahul is also expected to garland a BR Ambedkar statue.
He will leave Mumbai for Pondicherry at around 1430 hrs IST.
But the Shiv Sena has pledged to exploit the six-hour long visit by Rahul to the fullest. The party has reportedly urged party workers everywhere to greet Rahul with black flags.
“Our government will take strict action against those who disrupt law and order no matter which political party they belong to,” says Maharashtra Minister of State of Home Ramesh Bagwe.
It's been a busy week for the Shiv Sena as they have been targeting everyone from Shah Rukh Khan to Mukesh Ambani to Rahul Gandhi.
The state government says it is fully prepared for any violence but the question is: how far will the Sena go to prove its point this time?
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