MNS workers, Raj's wife head towards Pune without paying toll

Daring the Maharashtra government to take action against them, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers and supporters headed towards Pune, from the city and its suburbs today, without paying toll, to attend a public meeting to be addressed by their leader Raj Thackeray.

Among those who did not pay the toll was Raj's wife Sharmila Thackeray, who urged people to participate in the agitation against toll launched by the MNS chief.

"We have stopped paying toll. We have not paid toll this time too. Until the government does not give us an account, we will not pay toll," Sharmila, who went past the Khalapur toll booth in Raigad district without paying toll, said

Urging people to defy the government by "breaking rules", she said that people should show the courage to seek information. "An agitation intensifies only after people participate in it," she said.

Several other MNS workers were also seen not paying toll at various toll booths.

A few days ago, Raj had asked his followers not to pay toll, after which his party workers went on a rampage and vandalised several toll booths in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad and Nagpur.

Two cases were also registered against Raj Thackeray for inciting violence, but he was not arrested.