MNS Chief Raj Thackeray Accuses BJP of Fomenting Conflict in Mumbai Over Chhath Puja

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray on Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of attempting to stir up conflict in Mumbai and across Maharashtra by exploiting the Chhath Puja issue ahead of upcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.

Conflict Over Songs

The remarks follow a controversy over playing Bhojpuri songs at certain Mumbai railway stations, a move the MNS promptly shut down. Thackeray alleged that the BJP and its supportive social media network are trying to provoke a cultural frenzy to target Maharashtra's heritage, adding that the state's restraint should not be mistaken for weakness. He also warned the North Indian and Gujarati communities that the ruling party is pitting them against local residents for political gain.

Past Tactics

According to Hindustan Times, Thackeray stated that the BJP relies on manufactured clashes and fear instead of actual performance to win elections. He claimed that ahead of Lok Sabha polls, the party stokes Hindu-Muslim tensions and uses staged tactics to frighten the public, while pointing to a manufactured Gujarati versus Marathi dispute over feeding pigeons last year to win Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections.

Context

Regional politics in Mumbai often centers on protecting local Marathi identity and employment against perceived external pressures from migration. Chhath Puja is a major festival celebrated widely by migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar living in Maharashtra, making cultural events around it a frequent flashpoint for local political posturing.