MNS kicks off fresh row: Raj Thackeray's ‘plight of Marathi Manoos’ poster irks Christians

Mumbai, Mar 25: Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has once again raked in a controversy after release of its new poster in Maharashtra. The recent poster, said to have come from party chief Raj Thackeray himself, has irked the Christian community in Mumbai.

The poster put up at several places in Mumbai is a part of MNS' protest against Mumbai's proposed Development Plan 2013-14 depicts the Marathi Manoos crucified against the backdrop of highrises.

As per an Indian Express report, Christian organisations in the city that have sent complaints to the MNS as well as the Bombay Archdiocese.

MNS has reportedly pasted several of such posters across parts of Byculla, CST and Girgaum by the Maharashtra Navnirman Mahapalika Kamgaar Karmchaari Sena, the party's union in the civic body.

As per the report, when asked about the poster inspired by the Crucifixion, Dilip Naik, chairman of the Karmchaari Sena, said the poster should not be perceived as Christian imagery, for the Marathi Manoos in the drawing is not hung at the cross.

"This is not a religious pictorial and has nothing to do with religion. We also do not have a Hindutva agenda, we have a Maharashtra agenda," Naik was quoted as saying.

But the justification has not pleased the Christians in the city have lodged their complaints to the party. They are of the view that the poster shows man crucified in a similar fashion as Jesus' Crucifixion and are also questioning the timing of it, as Good Friday is round the corner.

This is not the first time when Raj Thackeray-led MNS' artwork has created controversy. Earlier too the cartoons sketched by MNS chief sparked row when he took a jibe over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with NCP supremo Sharad Pawar.

In his cartoon cartoon, the two leaders, Narendra Modi and Sharad Pawar - who happen to be arch political rivals - were shown celebrating Valentine's Day together at lunch.

Another creation from Thackeray showed BJP's top bosses i.e. Narendra Modi and Amit Shah as twin towers being attacked by AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, after BJP's disappointing loss in Delhi assembly polls.

The cartoon also showed US President Barack Obama watching BJP's drubbing on TV.

OneIndia News