Raj Thackeray raises ‘sons of soil’ rhetoric again, writes to CM Shinde saying they are denied jobs in Maharashtra

Raj Thackeray pointed out that private placement agencies have been undertaking such recruitment drives without adequate communication. “They are recruiting migrants, thus denying local youths the right to jobs in their home state,” he stated in the letter.

Citing the example of Pune Metro, he said, “The recruitment was carried out in Patna… These agencies are flouting all rules. The mandatory domicile certificate is being overlooked to promote outsiders who break all rules and settle in Mumbai and other metros in Maharashtra.”

Ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls scheduled this year, followed by the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in April-May 2024, the MNS appears to have reverted to its tried-and-tested formula based on Marathi manoos.

Raj Thackeray, along with his son Amit Thackeray, have embarked on a poll mission which includes a state tour and a conclave to mobilise support for the MNS. Party office bearers in Mumbai, Pune, Nashik and Thane have undertaken steps to reach out to youths and are once again busy networking to prepare the organisation for polls.

Thackeray has also urged the state government to ensure the passage and strict implementation of the Private Placement Agency Registration and Regulation Act. He urged a relook at the draft to ensure justice to “sons of the soil”.

Recently, while speaking at the foundation day event of the party’s disaster management wing in Dadar, Raj Thackeray held migrants responsible for bad drains and rivers in Mumbai by building “illegal colonies”.

“There is a limit to how many migrants should come to a city. After all, the influx of migrants leads to overburdened infrastructure. These migrants built illegal colonies along the drains and river banks. These lead to poor drain and river management. It leads to overflowing drains, choked drains,” he said.

MNS leaders support his stand on migrants. They believe the stress on Mumbai’s infrastructure caused due to the presence of migrants is leading to poor civic amenities including poor drainage system, polluted rivers and encroachment along drains and river banks in Mumbai and suburbs.

A year ago, Raj Thackeray had launched a campaign against loudspeakers in mosques and kept up the heat on the MVA government which was in power at the time. The pressure from the MNS made the government prescribe noise regulations in all places of worship, including mosques and temples. The MNS chief had also raised objections about an “illegal structure” near the Mahim dargah in Mumbai and warned the BMC to demolish it.