Latest from Raj: reserve 80% jobs in pvt firms for Maharashtrians

Weeks after targeting North Indian migrants, Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has raked up the son-of-the soil issue, demanding 80 per cent job reservation for Marathi-speaking locals in the private sector and warning "we know how to explain" if this is not done.

Since Sunday, the MNS has been delivering letters by hand to private companies in and around Mumbai. The party said around 100 companies, mostly call centres and security firms, have already been approached in the suburbs of Mumbai (Vile Parle, Malad and Juhu), Pune, Nashik, Igatpuri and Vidarbha. In the coming days, the MNS plans to approach 44,000 companies.

Manoj Chavan, chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Kaamgar Sena, said members are personally "hand-delivering the letters" and meeting company officials. "It is just a cordial reminder to the industries and the trade sector. If they don't respond, we know how to explain to them in our own way," he said.

In the letter, the MNS says a job candidate must have a 15-year Maharashtra domicile certificate which it claims is also the policy of the state government. "This rule is being violated openly and the MNS has complaints regarding the matter".

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MNS MOB FURY - Bachchan target: Raj picks up from where his uncle left

In a new turn to the row over Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray's comments against non-Maharashtrians, supporters followed up clashes on the streets with an attack on Amitabh Bachchan's Mumbai residence last night. The Centre today asked the state government to take all steps to maintain law and order.

The Samajwadi Party, meanwhile, filed a petition with the Election Commission demanding de-registration of MNS. SP general secretary Amar Singh said action should be taken because Raj Thackeray had been issuing "veiled as well as open threats" to non-Maharashtrians and "exhorting his party cadres to perpetrate acts of violence" against them. He also lodged an FIR against Raj Thackeray.

MNS activists clashed with SP workers yesterday, attacked two theatres screening Bhojpuri films and assaulted several North Indian taxi drivers and vendors in central Mumbai.

Late last night, two motorcycle-borne youths threw glass bottles at Bachchan's residence Prateeksha in Juhu. The attack followed Raj Thackeray's comments questioning the star's allegiance to Maharashtra and accusing him of being more loyal to native Uttar Pradesh.

Bachchan, who's in Jaipur with family and Amar Singh to celebrate son Abhishek's birthday, refused comment, but security was stepped up at his Mumbai homes.

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said stern action would be taken against the guilty. "There will be full protection for those living in Mumbai," he said.

2 yrs ago, he sang inclusive tune, what's different now RAKSHIT SONAWANE MUMBAI, FEBRUARY 4 IS the violence against north Indians in Mumbai a case of overambitious Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists forcing the hand of their chief Raj Thackeray?

Or is the latest conflict between outsiders and locals in the financial capital a chameleon act in the run-up to elections by the politically insecure Raj?

Some senior MNS leaders think it is the former while others think it is a combination of both.

The party, the first set said, is reconstituting its internal committees and appointing new office-bearers and much of the trouble has been witnessed in districts where the process has not been completed and activists are jockeying for positions.

"While appointments on many panels have been finalised

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