Tension triggered by yesterday'sstone-pelting incident targeting Raj Thackeray's convoyescalated today with MNS workers and supporters vandalisingNCP offices in several parts of Mumbai and adjoining Thane.
Police lodged two FIRs against MNS activists, arrestedsix of them and registered some non-cognizable offences inseveral parts of the metropolis, officials said.
NCP, a coalition partner in the Congress-ledgovernment in the state, has denied that its workers wereinvolved in the attack on Thackeray's convoy at Bhingar inAhmednagar district last evening and dubbed the incident as"stage-managed".
Tension brewed in parts of Mumbai and adjoining Thanedistricts since the midnight attack on NCP office at Ambernathwith MNS trying to enforce a bandh to protest the Bhingarincident.
Angry MNS workers burnt effigies of Deputy ChiefMinister Ajit pawar and blackened his posters in some parts ofthe city.
Incidents of stone throwing were also reported fromKhar, Antop Hill, Chembur, Kurla and Bandra, police said.
Six people were arrested by the Khar police insuburban Mumbai after they vandalized the NCP's office there,while in Antop Hill in Central Mumbai a case of stone peltingwas registered against four persons all of whom areabsconding.
Bandra police registered a Non-Cognizable offenceagainst MNS workers after they allegedly tore NCP posters. Incentral suburb of Mulund, 11 people were detained for illegalassembly and sloganeering, police said, adding there was somestone pelting in Vikroli also.
Minor clashes were reported between activists of thetwo parties but there was no official confirmation.
A car and a bus were were also damaged by MNS workers.
Suspected NCP workers had hurled stones at Thackeray'sconvoy at Bhingar and waved black flags but nobody wasinjured.
NCP activists were furious at Thackeray's criticism ofPawar, nephew of party supremo Sharad Pawar, whom the MNSleader blamed for the severe drought in several parts of thestate.
Thackeray had at a public meeting in Solapur recentlyattacked Pawar, who headed the water resources ministrybetween 1999 and 2009, for allegedly having failed to checkwater scarcity despite huge spendings on irrigation projects.
There have been allegations of a Rs 70,000 crore scam in the irrigation department, which has been with NCP sinceinception of Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra in 1999.
Amid mounting tension, MNS MLA from Ghatkopar RamKadam issued an open threat to NCP leaders and workers if theycontinued to target Thackeray.
"We know how to give tit for tat. We believe inreplying in the language people choose to speak to us. They(NCP leaders) have forgotten that they have to move inMaharashtra.... Their homes are in Mumbai," he said whilespeaking to a TV news channel.
MNS leader in the legislative assembly BalaNandgaonkar blamed NCP for the incidents.
"Raj saheb is on a state-wide tour (during which) heis bound to criticise the government and his opponents. Rajsaheb targeted Ajit Pawar and he also responded. Suchcriticism is nothing new. However, throwing stones at ourleader's convoy and women workers getting hurt in police lathicharge is simply not done," he told PTI.
On the attack by his partymen at NCP office inAmbernath, Nandgaonkar said MNS workers had merely reacted tothe action of the ruling party. "It is upto them to stop.
Our's was a reaction to their action," he said.
NCP, however, rejected MNS charge that its workerswere responsible for the attack on Thackeray's motorcade andasked its cadre not to get provoked.
State NCP president Madhukar Pichad said Maharashtrawas reeling under drought and party workers should directtheir energy towards constructive work to provide relief tothe masses.
NCP spokesman Nawab Malik said the incident of stonepelting on Thackeray's convoy was a "managed event".
"Our workers did stage a demonstration and waved blackflags at Raj's convoy to protest his derogatory remarksagainst our leaders at his Solapur rally," Malik said, addingthe home department should act against those responsible fordestruction of private and public property.
"NCP has no history of politics of destruction unlikethe MNS which has mastered the art of misguiding the youth andmaking them anti-social elements," he said.