MNS to go ahead with anti-Mumbai violence protest march

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray on Monday said he would go ahead with his protest march on Tuesday against the August 11 violence even though the police have denied permission for it.

Talking to the media, Raj said the Azad Maidan police have denied permission on grounds that the morcha would lead to traffic congestion and create law and order problem.

"Why these rules were not applied to the Raza Academy morcha (on August 11 that later led to violence)", he asked.

 Raj said he had spoken to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan over the objection raised by the police for his protest.

"I told Chavan that the administration will have to bear the consequences if the permission is not given. Chavan told me that he would speak to the police as peaceful protest is a democratic right," Raj said.

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He rejected the police charge that he had not sought permission for the protest stating "applications for permission have been made to the police".

He said he has asked his supporters to be alert and prevent anybody from taking advantage of the protest march and create trouble.

Two youths were killed and 52, including 44 policemen, injured when a rally called to protest against alleged atrocities on Muslims in Assam and Myanmar turned violent near Azad Maidan in Mumbai on August 11.

The protesters went on a rampage, attacking the police, including some women constables, torching media and police vehicles, smashing cameras of photo journalists and damaging buses.

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