[edit] 2008 violence against North Indians in Maharashtra
Main article: 2008 attacks on North Indians in Maharashtra
In February 2008, some MNS activists clashed with Samajwadi Party (SP) party workers in Mumbai when Samajwadi Party supporters attended a rally at Shivaji Park, Dadar, Mumbai, a stronghold of MNS, where Samajwadi Party leader, Abu Asim Azmi made a fiery speech. After the clashes, 73 MNS activists and 19 SP workers were arrested by Mumbai Police for indulging in violence.[4]On February 6, 2008, reportedly, about 200 Congress and NCP party workers quit the party and joined Maharashtra Navnirman Sena to support against MNS's so-called pro Marathi agenda.[5]
A petition was filed in the Patna civil court on February 8 against Thackeray for his alleged remarks over Chhath, Bihar's most popular festival of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.[6] Mr. Thackeray maintains he is not against Chhath Puja[7], but against the "show of arrogance" and "Politicization of Chut Puja" displayed by some people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar on this occasion.
On February 10, 2008, MNS workers attacked vendors and shopkeepers from North India in various parts of Maharashtra, and destroyed government property to vent their anger against the reported move to arrest Raj Thackeray.[8] Nashik police detained 26 MNS workers for the violence.
In February 2008, Raj Thackarey's speech on the issue of uncontrolled migration into Mumbai from other parts of India created a well publicized controversy. Maharashtra's economy leads other states in India and its capital Mumbai has become a magnet to migrant population from states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. MNS supporters clashed with activists of the Samajwadi Party, a regional party for Muslims from Uttar Pradesh leading to street violence. Thackeray also criticized noted film actor turned politician Amitabh Bachchan, a native of Uttar Pradesh, for business toward UP and Bihar because of Amar Singh. Bachchan came into fame and fortune in Mumbai's film industry – Bollywood. [9][10]
On September 8, 2008, Infosys Technologies announced that 3,000 employee positions had been shifted from Pune due to construction delays caused earlier that year by MNS attacks on North Indian construction workers in Maharashtra.[11]. On 15 October 2008, Thackeray threatened to shut down Jet Airways operations in Maharashtra if they did not rehire probationary employees that had been shed in a cost cutting move forced by the economic downturn.[12]
In October 2008, MNS activists beat up North Indian candidates appearing for the all-India Railway Recruitment Board entrance exam for the Western region in Mumbai.[13] One Bihari died because of train accident in third class and Hindi Media with support from NCP/Congress successfully potrate it as guy died ensuing rioting.[14] In retaliation for the MNS' attack on Biharis and North Indians in general, the Bharatiya Bhojpuri Sangh attacked the residence of a Marathi official of Tata Motors in Jamshedpur.[15] Following the uproar in the Indian parliament, and calls that there was no pressure to arrest the MNS chief,[16] Raj Thackeray was arrested in the early hours of October 21. He was produced before a court on the day itself and would return the next day after spending the night in jail.[17] Following the arrest, however, MNS party activists took out their anger on parts of Mumbai city and the region at large.[18] The arrest resulted in applause, fear and calls for a ban on the MNS.[19][20][21] The Shiv Sena, however, maintained a cool response, although senior party leader Manohar Joshi said they were close to supporting the MNS in their agitation against the non-Marathi candidates for the railway board exam.[22]
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