Raj Thackeray's MNS Goes 'Saffron', Announces Mega Rally To 'Drive Out' Illegal Infiltrators

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Thursday unveiled its new safforn flag marking the beginning of its push towards a more nationalistic agenda. The party held a day-long Maha Adhiveshan in Mumbai’s Goregaon suburb on the 94th birth anniversary of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.

In his speech, MNS chief Raj Thackeray indicated he is all set to carry forward uncle Bal Thackeray's legacy of Hindu nationalism. He unveiled the new party flag featuring Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's royal seal on a saffron background. He also announced his support to the Narendra Modi government on issues such as Citizenship Act and National Register of Citizens (NRC). Thackeray also announced his son Amit Thackeray’s entry in politics.

"I am a Marathi and a Hindu too. I have not changed my religion....If you try to mess with the Marathi in me, I will go after that person as a Marathi, and I will go after him as a Hindu if one messes with the Hindu in me," Raj said at the valedictory session of the party's plenary meeting.

Downplaying speculation about his ideological shift towards Hindutva from his earlier 'Marathi manoos' and son-of-the-soil agenda, he said he had this flag design in mind since the launch of the MNS. Its unveiling amid the current political situation was a "pure coincidence", he said.

The Shiv Sena, from which Raj carved out his own party, is known for its Hindutva ideology. But the Uddhav Thackeray-led party did a radical about-turn last year when it ditched the BJP and formed government in Maharashtra with the Congress and the NCP. In a veiled dig at Uddhav, his estranged cousin, Raj said, "I don't change the colour of my party to form the government."

Raj also said in his speech that the Muslims who are "honest" towards the country "are ours". The country cannot "reject" personalities like former President APJ Abdul Kalam, former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan and lyricist Javed Akhtar, he said.

His party -- which had launched a strident anti-North Indians agitation in its early years -- never forsake Hindutva, Raj claimed. "We are facing such a great internal threat (from illegal migrants) that Indian soldiers may have to fight them instead of (the enemy) on the border," the MNS chief said. He noted that Muslims have hit the streets to march against the CAA in large numbers.

"Some people told me the reason behind the protests: they are angry that Article 370 was scrapped, there is anger against the (Supreme Court's) Ram Temple verdict. And that pent-up anger is being expressed," Raj said. He questioned how many of the Muslims taking part in the protests were Indian.

"And if the Indian Muslims are going to support them (foreigners), why should we support you?" he asked.

Seeking to drive out "infiltrators", Thackeray also called for stopping the 'Samjhauta Express' that runs between India and Pakistan.

Softening his stance towards Modi, Thackeray said he criticised the prime minister when the latter was "wrong" and "congratulated" him when he took right decisions. He will meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to share some information about Muslim clerics "infiltrating parts of the state and hatching conspiracy against the country", the MNS chief said. The information came from the police, he claimed.

The new MNS flag bears the Raj Mudra (royal seal) of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and appears to spell out the new direction that his party looks set to take. The party’s earlier flag was saffron, blue and green.

(With PTI Inputs)