MNS continues campaign against North Indians

Pune/Mumbai, Jul 15 : Stepping up its campaign against North Indians, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists ransacked the income tax office here, alleging discrimination against the local youths.

MNS activists were apparently angry over an interview for a lower-level post in which the maximum candidates were from Bihar. Stoking anger against outsiders, party chief Raj Thackeray said in Mumbai that the state's development was impossible because of the influx of North Indians. Less than 50 per cent of Mumbai's 17 million residents are Maharashtrians.

MNS says it wants more jobs for what it calls "sons of the soil" and greater respect from Mumbaikers whose roots lie elsewhere.

The party said the recent violence was not ordered by the party, but was rather a spontaneous outburst of injured Maharashtrian pride.

Earlier this year, MNS workers incited violence by attacking North Indians who had migrated to Maharshtra.

ANI