Now it’s Paswan’s turn to challenge Thackeray on his home turf

“It is impossible that residents of Dadar, which is the centre of Marathi culture, will accept the decision,” Thackeray, whose Sena was born in Dadar and commands total supremacy in central Mumbai, said.

Paswan, according to an official release, told Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi in a letter today that the renaming would be “a homage to B R Ambedkar” in the 50th year of India’s independence. Chaitya Bhoomi at Dadar Sea face houses a memorial to Ambedkar where he was cremated. Chaitya is a Pali word meaning a mound containing relics of Buddhist leaders.

His move comes apparently in response to Thackeray’s imposition of `ban’ on the Railway Minister from entering the city from August 16 for his “arrogant refusal to start Konkan Railway trains from Dadar.” At present, Konkan trains originate from Kurla.

In his defiant style, Paswan gave the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government time till August 15 to formalise the renaming proposal.

Paswan also challenged Thackeray’s ban on his entry into Maharashtra and warned him to desist from such moves or “face action.” He advised Thackeray “to govern the state for the welfare of the poorest of the poor and not to indulge in such gimmicks.”

Speaking at a morcha taken out by the State Janata Dal led Progressive Democratic Front to press for the dismissal of the Alliance Government following the police firing on Dalits here on July 11, Paswan reminded the Sena chief that he was a Union Minister as well as a Leader of the Lower House in the Parliament.

Throwing a gauntlet at Thackeray, Paswan said, “Nobody can challenge me, a follower of B R Ambedkar.”

Harping on BJP, the Sena’s coalition partner in the State Government, Paswan said the likes of Arun Shourie, belonging to the RSS, were trying to confuse the minds of the common man. Launching a scathing attack on Shourie for his book Worshipping False Gods, he said that “no one can demean a leader of the stature of Ambedkar”.

Paswan said, “Ambedkar was a national leader and branding him as a leader of Dalits was a ploy of the people who believe in the caste system.” Paswan alleged that “the Sena-BJP Government was dividing the State on the issue of religion and caste.”

In a sharp reaction, Thackeray wondered whether the United Front government at the Centre “has any future” if one of its ministers “behaves in complete disregard to people not only of Dadar but of entire Mumbai.” “If this man (Paswan) continues like this, it will be difficult for the United Front Government to remain in the saddle and Paswan will be responsible for it,” theSena chief thundered.