MNS men threaten pro-Vidarbha leader

The Mumbai Press Club witnessed dramatic scenes on Tuesday when a group of MNS activists — who are in favour of an undivided Maharashtra, or ‘Akhand Maharashtra’ — disrupted a press conference being held by a pro-Vidarbha movement leader, Wamanrao Chatap.

Mr Chatap, a former president of Shetakari Sanghatana, was holding the press conference to put forward his views about separate statehood for the Vidarbha region. But in the middle of the press meet, a car suddenly entered the press club premises. Amey Khopar, the president of the MNS’ Chitrapat Sena (entertainment wing), alighted from the vehicle and ran towards the press club hall along with two of his associates, where he demanded that Mr Chatap and a colleague of his stop their press meet immediately.

Meanwhile, dozens of other MNS activists also entered the hall and started shouting slogans in favour of a united Maharashtra. They also shouted slogans in favour of MNS chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena founder the Late Bal Thackeray.

Mr Khopar warned Mr Chatap to leave the hall. “We will not allow you to hold a press conference for a separate Vidarbha state here in Maharashtra. Speak about the same issue in Vidarbha,” Mr Khopkar told Mr Chatap, adding that 106 martyrs had given up their lives for an undivided Maharashtra and the MNS would not allow anyone to carve out a separate state.

Some of the MNS activists even pulled the table away from in front of Mr Chatap and instructed the journalists present to leave the hall. Around 10 minutes later, the MNS activists left the hall.

Mr Chatap then tried continuing the press conference. But MNS corporator Sandeep Deshmukh and Mr Khopkar returned soon after, this time with a more violent bent of mind.

Mr Khopkar told Mr Chatap that it was only because of the latter’s age (Mr Chatap is 65 years old) that he was being let off. “I am considering your age, but I’m warning you — don’t continue the press conference,” Mr Khopkar told Mr Chatap.

The 65-year-old three-times legislator then tried to reason with the MNS activists, saying that he should be allowed to air his views as around 3,000 farmers had committed suicide in Vidarbha and the region is becoming a hotbed for Naxalites. But, hearing Mr Chatap say this, an MNS activist rushed towards him and tried to slap him, only to be pulled back by his own colleague.

Meanwhile, over a dozen policemen entered the press club hall and brought the situation under control.

Before leaving, however, Mr Chatap said that he would hold a morcha at Nagpur Vidhan Bhavan during the Winter Session in order to put forward his stand for a separate Vidarbha.