Around 10-12 Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists on Wednesday beat up a non-Marathi fruit vendor and vandalised his handcart for disallowing a Nashik farmer to sell his produce in Ghatkopar are
Around 10-12 Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists on Wednesday beat up a non-Marathi fruit vendor and vandalised his handcart for disallowing a Nashik farmer to sell his produce in Ghatkopar area. As a video of the incident, shot by one of the activists, went viral, the police arrested five MNS activists in this connection. They were released on bail later. The Nashik farmer, who approached the MNS activists for help, justified the party's action of taking law into their hand.
The MNS activists thrashed fruit vendor Saeed Shaikh, hailing from Gujarat but born and brought up in Mumbai, alleging that he was not allowing a Nashik farmer, Balkrishana Garud, to sell his vegetables at Amrut Nagar in Ghatkopar. They also made Mr Shaikh apologise to Mr Garud.
MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande said, “The fruit vendor was preventing a Maharashtrian farmer from selling his vegetables, which he had brought in a truck. If the outsiders bully locals in such a manner, we will also teach them a lesson in our own style.”
While MNS’ act of hooliganism drew sharp criticism from all political quarters, CM Devendra Fadnavis dismissed it saying, “The incident should not be taken seriously”
Meanwhile, alleging that the act had tacit support from the CM, NCP spokesman Nawab Malik said, -"It is a clear ploy to garner votes ahead of the BMC polls. The CM is trying to divide Marathi votes and instilling fear among outsiders so that they vote for his party.-"
Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam has demanded that vendors be provided with police protection. Following the incident, the Ghatkopar police arrested Mr Garud, MNS leader Ganesh Bhagat and three MNS activists. Officials booked them under Section 323 and 147 of IPC for voluntarily causing hurt and rioting. However, the police ruled out any communal angle.
