Raj Thackeray trying to polarise atmosphere before MCGM polls: Azmi

Mumbai, Oct 3: MNS President Raj Thackeray is trying to polarise and vitiate the atmosphere to gain brownie points in the run up to the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) polls, alleged Samajwadi Party Maharashtra unit chief Abu Azmi.

His comments come in the backdrop of Thackeray's statement in which he said reservation based on the caste should be scrapped.

"By demanding to scrap caste-based reservation system, he has proved that he is against reservation to the Maratha community.

He is only trying to further polarise and vitiate the atmosphere to gain brownie points in the run up to the MCGM polls," he told reporters here today. If the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act is being misused, there could be changes done to it, rather than scrapping it altogether, Azmi said. "People have downright rejected Raj Thackeray.

He knows that his strength is diminishing in the MCGM, like in the Vidhan Sabha. Thus, there is a desperate tactic to stay in the media and let people remember there is a party called the MNS," he said.

Thackeray, while addressing a gathering in suburban Thane had yesterday, opined that reservation should be given only for the economically backward and that whenever he gets the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister, he would request him to give reservation to those who are economically backward irrespective of the caste.

He had alleged that former Prime Minister V P Singh was the "culprit" who brought in the reservation system and "poisoned" the country.

PTI