Shiv Sena takes on RSS

Says Mumbai is for Marathis

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Shiv Sena, key ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), were on a collision course over the migrants issue in Mahasrashtra, with the Sena today telling the Sangh that Mumbai belongs to Marathi people only.

The RSS, while echoing its chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks yesterday on the emotive issue, said it was opposed to discrimination on the basis of language and demanded steps to check any disturbances in this regard in Maharashtra.

Taking the Shiv Sena and the MNS head-on, the Sangh parivar founthead also said it had asked its volunteers to protect north Indians in Maharashtra and prevent spread of anti-Hindi feelings in the state. “The Sangh parivar has asked its volunteers in Maharashtra to try and prevent the spread of anti-north Indian and anti-Hindi feelings,” RSS leader Ram Madhav told reporters in Jabalpur.

Responding to Bhagwat’s remarks, Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi said: “The time has come to remind the RSS that Mumbai belongs to Marathi people only and they should get priority here.”

Mumbai’s glory is due to hard work of the Marathi people here and they have full right over the city, the former Lok Sabha Speaker told reporters in Mumbai.

BJP president Nitin Gadkari, who is in Bangalore, declined to be drawn into a discussion on the perceived divergent views on the migrants issue between the RSS and Shiv Sena.