Tension erupted between NCP and MNS activists inMumbai and other parts of the state Wednesday following a Tuesday rallyaddressed by Raj Thackeray in Ahmednagar.
Angry NCP activists pelted stones at vehicles in Raj Thackeray's convoy earlyWednesday in Mumbai and waved black flags at the MNS chief when his vehiclepassed by last night.
In retaliation, activists of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) targetedNationalist Congress Party (NCP) offices in south Mumbai and suburbs, as wellas Ahmednagar, Nanded, Akola, Yavatmal, Parbhani, Thane and damaged private andpublic vehicles.
The provocation behind the violence is believed to be Thackeray's politicalrallies in which he has targeted NCP and its top leaders like Sharad Pawar, hisnephew Ajit Pawar and Home Minister R.R. Patil.
"In democratic politics, anybody is free to criticize anybody. But, howwill activists digest the kind of abusive language used by him (Raj Thackeray)?This is absolutely deplorable," an agitated NCP spokesperson Nawab Maliktold IANS Wednesday.
"If anybody takes the law in their hands, the police and government shalldeal with them appropriately," Malik warned, adding that details ofattacks on NCP offices, workers and other places were being collected.
According to reports, stones were pelted at NCP offices in Thane, Mumbai,Bandra, Ahmednagar, Parbhani while public buses were attacked in Yavatmal,Akola and Nanded early Tuesday.
Police have tightened security and the situation is stated to be under control.
Virtually shifting into poll mode for next year's Lok Sabha and Maharashtraassembly elections, Thackeray has been attacking top NCP leaders atwell-attended rallies as part of his ongoing state tour.
To the discomfiture of the NCP, he has also raised uncomfortable issues andquestions pertaining to various departments handled by the NCP in the stategovernment.