As many as 80 migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh — shopkeepers to businessmen and politicians — huddled in a hastily-called meeting at Andheri on Tuesday. They did not want to reveal where, or the names of the netas who attended. For when they had met publicly on Sunday, Shiv Sena workers had barged in violently to break up their peaceful protest. ‘‘If the word’s out, Sena will spoil all our plans. They are afraid that if a group of migrants is allowed to protest, more will follow suit,’’ says Rambachan Gupta, chairman of the Uttar Pradeshiya Maha Sangh’s North-West zone. Since the Sena’s recent attack on railway recruitment candidates at Kalyan station, groups of 100-200 migrants have been meeting at various locations, to voice their disbelief, disquiet and make plans.The plan is a ‘‘peaceful’’ demonstration of strength — this week it will be 4,000-10,000. ‘‘Does the Sena think we are here to beg? I have earned every rupee with my blood and sweat,’’ says PCO owner D.P. Yadav, a UP settler. Gorakhpur migrant Bhim Sahani requested police to withdraw security at his Andheri home after Sunday’s Shiv Sena mob fury. ‘‘The atmosphere will become tense if we hide in our homes with police protection,’’ he says.Nanhelal Verma, who owns a plastic factory at Bhandup, migrated to Mumbai in 1981 from Pratapgarh in UP. He says: ‘‘There’s no question of our leaving Mumbai. We won’t carry lathis and the Sena shouldn’t do anything to force us to.’’
