Bhujbal supporters knock on Raj Thackeray’s door

Supporters of former Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Monday knocked on the doors of Raj Thackeray, president of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) seeking his help for the release of their jailed leader. According to Jayant Jadhav, member of legislative council of Nationalist Congress Party, delegation of supporters will meet all party leaders one by one to seek their support. Jadhav added they will meet Jayant Patil, leader of Peasants and Workers Party, Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena chief and in the last, they will meet chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

A delegation led by Jadhav and other supporters of the prominent OBC leader Bhujbal, in jail since March 2016, called on the MNS chief contending that their leader hadn’t been granted bail despite all efforts. Jadhav said, Bhujbal was imprisoned though the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) had no proof against him and gross injustice was meted out to him.

In order to highlight Bhujbal’s plight, his supporters plan to take out a massive rally of half-a-million activists in Mumbai coinciding with the upcoming budget session of the state Legislature, the delegation informed Thackeray.

Simultaneously, ‘Bhujbal Jodo’ campaign has been launched to canvas for his release from jail, along with his nephew, Sameer, who is also jailed since February 2016.

A one-time bitter critic of Bhujbal, Thackeray, however, gave the delegation a sympathetic hearing and advised the supporters to launch a ‘Bhujbal Chhodo’ movement to secure his bail. He also indicated he is aware of what is going on in the state, and how injustice is being done to the Bhujbal and assured support of MNS wherever required in the matter.

All India Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad said they will take out a massive procession to Azad Maidan during the session to highlight the wrongs done to Bhujbal by denying him bail for so long. Among the prominent leaders who called on Thackeray were Devidas Pingale, former member of parliament, Narhari Zirwal, Shirish Konval, Dilip Khaire, Ambadas Khaire and officebearers of various organisations with which the Bhujbals are associated.

Later, the supporters and leaders said that they are calling on leaders of various likeminded parties for solidarity on this issue even as 70-yearold Bhujbal’s bail plea is likely to come up before Bombay HC on Wednesday.