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Malegaon:
Even as the Muslim supporters of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS)
are shocked over Raj Thackeray's statement that Malegaon - the Muslim dominated town in
North Maharashtra, is a safe haven for terrorists, he is receiving
flak from the Malegaonians.
"The statement made by Raj Thackeray
in his speech was totally uncalled for. In fact, I went to the
rally hoping to listen something different from what he and his
family are famous for. However, he exposed his true color once
again in Malegaon", Z
Khan, a journalist associated with a national TV channel, said
while speaking to ummid.com.
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Communal Politics |
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"There are places in Maharashtra
where terrorists from Pakistan and Bangladesh come and take
shelter. Malegaon and Bhiwandi are two of them",
Raj Thackeray |
Another journalist associated with a
Mumbai based Urdu daily said, "In my twenty years of journalistic
career, I never saw a leader delivering such a speech which is
filled with so much hatred and insult for others."
Ahesan Kamal, a local businessman
said, "Raj Thackeray should correct his information about
Malegaon. The terrorists who were involved in Malegaon terror
attacks, are from the Hindu terror outfits. Past reports and
events suggest Thackerays are ideologically very close to such
groups."
Meanwhile, the Maharastra Navnirman
Sena (MNS) candidates and supporters are in deep shock after Raj
Thackeray's speech delivered just two days before the polling.
When ummid.com sought reactions from
Iqbal Amarveer - one of the 15 Muslim candidates fighting on MNS
ticket, he looked stunned and could not utter a single word. Same
was the case with Mukhtar Bhikku, the man who worked extremely
hard in introducing the party in the areas with 100% Muslim
population.
These people now fear that the
speech will backfire, and the situation which was politically 'in
their favour, might change against them following Thursday's party
rally.
Raj Thackeray had on Thursday said that
Malegaon and Bhowandi - the two Muslim dominated towns, are the safe
haven for the terrorists. "There are places in Maharashtra
where terrorists from Pakistan and Bangladesh come and take
shelter. Malegaon and Bhiwandi are two of them", he said while
addressing an election rally by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS)
in Malegaon.
The MNS rally, which was telecast
live, was organized at
Malegaon Eid-Gah ground Thursday to garner support for the party
candidates, who are contesting for the Malegaon Corporation
elections to be held on April 15.
"At these places, terrorists come
and stay. It is only when bomb blasts happen at some places and
investigations are done, it come to fore that those involved were
having tea with the locals", he said.
Raj Thackeray was in
Malegaon to address an election rally organised ahead of the civic
polls. However, strangely for the audience, instead of touching the local issues and speaking
on his party manifesto, he concentrated on the communal politics,
national issues and sought support for the 2014 Maharashtra
Assembly elections.
"I know the conditions in Malegaon
is very bad. But same is the case everywhere in the state. If you
want to see the changes in the town, vote for me in the 2014
elections", he said.
Famous for textile industry, both
Malegaon and Bhiwandi are dominated by Muslims, who are mostly
from Uttar Pradesh. Bhiwandi Corporation elections are also
scheduled on April 15.
In yet another similarity, both of
these towns had seen in the past worst kind of communal riots.
Malegaon, besides a series of communal riots, had also seen two
terror attacks.
The investigating agencies have
arrested terrorists associated with the rightwing Hindu
organizations as accused in both of the terror attacks.
Interestingly, Raj Thackeray did not say anything about the
communal riots and the arrests of the Hindu terrorists who were
accused of planning terror attacks in Malegaon.
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