Shiv Sainiks stop train over statue desecration

Varanasi, July 9 (UNI) Agitated over the desecration of the statue of party supremo Balasahib Thackrey's late wife in Mumbai, Shiv Sena activists today stopped a passenger train here.

The Sainiks gathered at the Manduadih railway station raising anti-Maharashtra government slogans and stopped the passage of Allahabad-Varanasi passenger train.

Sainiks led by divisional president Ajay Chaubey later burnt effigy of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Maharashtra chief minister Vilas Rao Deshmukh at the Bhikharipur crossing.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Chaubey and district party president Gulshan Kapoor said they respect her ''Maasahib'' and the incident could not be tolerated.

''If the miscreants are not arrested soon, a massive public movement will be launched,'' they warned.

UNI ARS ATI MSJ PM1645