Sanjay Nirupam detained by Mumbai police
Mumbai, Feb 5 : Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam and his ten supporters were taken into preventive detention by Mumbai Police on Tuesday at Shivaji Park area here.
Nirupam was arrested after Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists attacked his office at Andheri.
Nirupam and his supporters were supposed to hold a protest rally at Shivaji Park and a sit-in in front of Raj Thackeray's house against the MNS-led violence in the state since Sunday.
The police reportedly arrested MNS spokesperson Shishir Shinde and 14 other MNS activists.
After the attack, Nirupam denied to cancel his planned 'dharna' at Raj Thackeray's house.
MNS activists has clashed yesterday with SP workers, attacked two theatres screening Bhojpuri films and assaulted north Indian taxi drivers and vendors.
"Today, the situation in many parts of Mumbai, like Worli is not good, we drivers do not go to those places even if offered a good deal," said Sarju Mahto, a taxi driver.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray has reportedly made derogatory remarks against 'Chhat Puja' saying it was a "drama."
Prior to the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) rally at the Shivaji Park on Sunday, MNS activists clashed with SP supporters, close to the venue resulting in detention of the violent mob.
Supporters of both the parties allegedly assembled outside the Plaza cinema in Dadar and indulged in stone pelting following Rajya Sabha MP and SP leader Jaya Bachchan's reaction to Raj Thackeray's statement against her husband, Amitabh Bachchan.
The Raj Thackeray-led MNS has been targeting north Indian migrants living in the metropolis and taken objection to celebrations like Chhat pooja and Uttar Pradesh Diwas in Maharashtra. The party is promoting the view that "when in Maharashtra, behave like Maharashtrians".
ANI