Mumbai: The Shiv Sena has taken on the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) over the issue of North Indians in Mumbai.
In an article in Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna on Monday party Executive President Uddhav Thackeray warned the RSS to stay away from any issue related to Mumbai.
"RSS should not comment on any issue that is to do with Mumbai. This city belongs to Maharashtra and Marathi manoos. If RSS wants to talk of protecting Hindi they should do it in South India first," Uddhav wrote in Saamna.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had on Sunday come out in support of North Indians in Maharashtra and asked sangh workers to protect the community from attacks, is an apparent snub to the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
"Whole of India is for all Indians and all Indians can earn livelihood anywhere in India. Language, caste, sub-castes, groups, tribes can be different, but all are sons of India," Bhagwat had said.
"This is a misconception that employment has decreased at our place because of migrants. Solution of this grievance should be found but the solution is not that you refuse people of your country to migrate to your area. The solution can be found if administration and government are dedicated. All political parties should rising above the vote-bank politics and consider this issue. National integration is above all," he added.
RSS leader Ram Madhav said in Jabalpur that sangh workers would protect North Indians in Maharashtra.
"Sangh workers would protect North Indians. Mohan Bhagwat has issued directions to sangh workers to protect the North Indians in Maharashtra," said Madhav.
RSS has, however, got the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party in its 'India is a for everyone' crusade.
"Just for politics we don't divide the country. We should be careful about this. The RSS has said the absolutely correct thing," said BJP Vice President Shanta Kumar, clearly going against its partner in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena, on the issue of North Indians vs Marathi Manoos.
Both the Shiv Sena and the MNS have been accusing North Indians of flooding Mumbai and taking away jobs from the Marathis.
MNS has been particularly violent and its supporters have attacked North Indians living in Mumbai and other cities of Maharashtra blaming them for snatching employment opportunities from the local people.
The Shiv Sena is also facing the heat from Maharashtra government after the party targeted Bollywood suoperstar Shah Rukh Khan for his support to Pakistani cricketers.
Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil warned that the Shiv Sena would be forced to pay up if they disrupt SRK's upcoming film My Name is Khan.
But head of the Shiva Sena's legal cell, Rahul Narvekar, told CNN-IBN that they are only interested in an unconditional apology from Shah Rukh Khan.
"There is no question of threatening. It is an agitation against Shah Rukh Khan for making derogatory statements. This is for a right cause and we want an unconditional apology from Shah Rukh khan. I don't want to comment on what RSS has said. RR Patil should look after other important law and order issues," said Narvekar.
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