MNS chief calls off 'rasta roko', to meet CM today

The city police on Wednesday detained Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray for nearly two hours after a state-wide ‘rasta roko’ against toll plazas called by the party disrupted  traffic at many places across the state. He was later released after he announced the party’s decision to call off the agitation.

Raj — who was taken into custody when he was heading towards Vashi toll plaza in Navi Mumbai — said he would  attend a meeting on Thursday, convened by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to discuss issues raised by him, including non-transparent toll collection system in the state. He asked his party workers to refrain from indulging in vandalism.

However, MNS workers damaged two buses in Aurangabad and forcibly shut shops in Mahim and Dombivali. Raj said, “Our intention was not to cause inconvenience to people, we were just protesting the toll being levied by the government.” He, however, added that Thursday’s meeting with CM will decide the party's future course of action on the issue of toll tax collection.

Raj said his party was not against toll collection per se but it was opposed to rampant corruption and harassment of citizens. He said his party was aware that the state government needed revenue to carry out development projects.

He said contractors often flouted norms and failed to provide basic amenities on toll roads. The MNS said toll taxes were unfair to commuters because roads are in a poor condition and facilities are sub-standard.