MAHARASHTRA NAVNIRMAN SENA president Raj Thackeray has warned Maharashtrians for remaining unwary of their aim and said it clearly that he would target north Indian people living in Maharashtra. He also recalled the hostile events and movements organized by his estranged uncle and Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray against south Indians in the 60s. Now, Raj Thackeray has tried to raise the root cause of unemployment among Marathi youths. According to him, the people from north India are now encroaching and grabbing the job opportunities in the state actually meant for Marathi people.

He warned Marathi youths that they should be well aware about the aims of north Indians in Maharashtra. He said that if the people did not pay attention to this problem, the north Indians would rule the state soon. On Monday, he was speaking at the function Shivaji temple in Dadar on the occasion of release of a book ‘Ramayan’. Veteran journalist Neelkant Khadilkar, editor of Marathi daily Navakaal, has published the book. Ramayan is the fourth pocket book written by him this year.

After releasing the book, Thackeray said that his party, MNS, is still keeping low profile but he is preparing for a big battle now. His indications were almost clear that he would raise the problem of unemployment among Marathi youths and would target the north Indians for snatching job opportunities in state. He criticized strongly the local people for showing their ignorant behaviour towards encroachments being done by north Indians.

He said that Maharashtra has the highest number of north Indians outside of Uttar Pradesh. This is an alarming signal for the people of state and they should be aware of it. He also said that Marathi people have not yet started paying serious attention to this problem.

Further, Thackeray also expressed regrets on the attitude showed by young people towards politics and political leaders. He also challenged youths to re-ignite their minds for actively participating in political affairs. Few years back, Raj Thackeray, the then chief of Bhartiya Vidyarthi Sena, had attacked north Indian unemployed youths at Kalyan railway station. They were arrived in Mumbai from different other states, particularly from Bihar and UP, for appearing in Railway recruitment examinations.

Raj Thackeray had started his political career by separating himself from Bal Thackeray’s Shiv Sena by forming a separate party named as MNS. Earlier on many occasions, he tried to raise issues against the people of north India living in Maharashtra and now on Monday he has given strong indication that north Indians would be his main targets.