MNS WORKERS PELT GEETA GAWLI’S CAR WITH STONES
MUMBAI: The simmering tension between the Thackeray cousins spilled onto the streets of Byculla when the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navirman Sena (MNS) allegedly pelted Akhil Bharatiya Sena (ABS) candidate Geeta Gawli’s car with stones. The Shiv Sena had lent its support to Gawli, the daughter of gangsterturned-politician Arun Gawli by not fielding its candidate at Byculla.
According to the police, the tension began after Geeta objected to activists donning MNS caps outside a poll booth at the Modi compound neighbourhood, which is a densely populated Marathispeaking pocket. The protest led to a verbal spat between workers from both parties leading to the incident.“the car was pelted with one stone, however, no one was injured in the incident. The Byculla police is in the process of registering a rioting case against the concerned persons present at the spot and a cross complaint will also be registered,” said Dhananjay Kulkarni, deputy commissioner of police and spokesperson of the Mumbai police.
The MNS candidate Sanjay Naik claimed Geeta’s men initiated the violence when they stormed into a poll booth. “They had a tipoff from the police control room that the railway engine (MNS party symbol) is cruising. As a result she (Geeta) arrived with her men and ruffled up our workers,” said Sanjay Naik.
Geeta however, said MNS workers attacked her car without any reason. “I was taking a tour of all the polling stations when boys donning MNS caps pelted my car with stones. The Election Commission should take strict action against such violence,” said Geeta.
(with inputs from Saurabh
Joshi)