Unfazed by criticisms and the prospect of arrest, MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday said “the voice that I have raised is correct, and I firmly believe in it and I do not care if anyone calls it politics or anything else, but this is the real truth”. The observation came a week after his anti-north Indian statements sparked violence across the state.He also said the MNS would continue to give appropriate response to those who tried to show their dominance in Mumbai and Maharashtra.At a press meet held at his office in Dadar, where no English or Hindi language TV channels were called in opposition of their presentation of events over the past week, Thackeray said the Chhath Puja and Uttar Pradesh Diwas being organised in Mumbai were nothing but a show of strength, adding that in Maharashtra, the MNS would allow only Maharashtra Day to be celebrated.“It was after this statement that Amar Singh and Abu Azmi said they would distribute sticks in Mumbai. What sort of dadagiri is this? And in response I said I want to inform the state’s Deputy Chief Minister that if Abu Azmi is going to undertake distribution of sticks in Mumbai or Maharashtra, then I will undertake the distribution of swords,” said Thackeray. He said the violence in various parts of the state was a “reaction” and not pro-active action by his workers. Thackeray refused to condemn his workers “for having reacted to the situation” and added that such reactions would be seen in Mumbai and Maharashtra if people from UP and Bihar tried to show their strength.Thackeray said he was not bothered about his arrest, but asked the Government on what basis he would be arrested. “Will the pressure from north Indians be the only reason?” he argued. Taking the tirade against the moves within BMC to bring in Hindi language, Thackeray objected to concessions proposed to be given to Bhojpuri films and also the introduction of Hindi as a language of administrative work.
