For many in Mumbai, this seems to be a replay of the Shiv Sena agitations of the Sixties and Seventies to demand reservations for ‘sons-of-the-soil’. Sensing an opportunity to up its ante ahead of the polls next year, Shiv Sena boss Bal Thackeray today warned the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) that his party would not allow examinations to be held in Mumbai until it decided to reserve a major share of vacancies for Maharashtrians. SCENES FROM 2 CONGRESS STATES Mumbai Rly Station Guwahati Rly Station Soon after he issued the statement through the party mouthpiece, Saamna, Shiv Sainiks went on the rampage at Kalyan railway station, attacking and threatening candidates from North India who arrived in the city for Sunday’s RRB examinations. The violence was even christened by local Sena men — Bihari Ani Bhaiya Baher Kada Mohim (Out With The Biharis And Bhaiyas Movement). As outstation candidates landed on board trains, slogan-shouting Sena members kicked, punched, pulled their hair and shouted expletives. In full view of the media, Sena activists snatched identity cards, tore hall tickets and hauled several students into outbound trains. The women took the lead. As victims made a desperate run for it, women activists screamed, grabbed their hair and pulled them back. ‘‘We will not let a single Bihari or a Uttar Pradeshi step out of any train. We have told our boys to beat up every Bihari or Bhaiya who dares step into this city to take the examination. This is our warning. We won’t be responsible for the action of our activists,’’ said Ravi Kapote, Kalyan city pramukh of the Shiv Sena, adding that about 250 of the 300-odd candidates at Kalyan station were attacked. Later in the day, the RRB postponed the examinations indefinitely even as railway officials met with Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal to discuss the issue. The state government, too, has taken the view that the Centre should provide a state quota in these vacancies. Bhujbal, who met railway officials to discuss security arrangements for the examinations, said, ‘‘We are of the opinion that a major chunk of jobs in Central undertakings should be reserved for local citizens.’’ He said he would write to Railway Minister Nitish Kumar to redraft the recruitment policy. Regarding Thackeray’s warning, Bhujbal, an erstwhile Shiv Sena leader, said: ‘‘Instead of creating a law-and-order problem, he should have asked the Shiv Sena ministers to discuss it with Nitish Kumar. Since the Shiv Sena is a constituent of the NDA government, Thackeray should have made a noise there, instead of Shivsaniks beating up job-seekers in Mumbai.’’ The Sena, which has been scouting around for a popular cause for some time now, seems to have finally reverted to its ‘sons-of-the-soil’ plank. Thackeray convened a meeting of senior party leaders at his Bandra residence Matoshree today to discuss the issue. The party’s agenda was clearly mapped out: first, to resort to typical Sena agitations. Second, to put pressure on the NDA government. A Sena delegation will meet Union minister for railways Nitish Kumar soon. The party will demand that these exams be held at the state level and not on a national basis. Saying that the Sena would not allow the examinations to be held if the sons-of-the-soil were not given priority in recruitments, Thackeray said, ‘‘If Maharashtrians are shedding blood for a just cause then it will prove to be costly for the Democratic Front Government. We will do whatever (we can) to achieve our goal.’’ Later in the day after the examinations were postponed, Thackeray’s nephew Raj—the man who orchestrated anti-North Indian protests—said, ‘‘It is a conspiracy to gag the voice of the sons-of-the-soil. These migrants have come to the city on the pretext of these examinations, send them back and save this city.’’ Central Railway General Manager SPS Jain has sought to justify the RRB’s position saying the board had received 6.50 lakh applications for 2,200 jobs of unskilled workers in the Central Railway. ‘‘I was told about 3 lakh candidates had submitted Maharashtrian residential addresses,’’ Bhujbal said.
