To keep migrants out, Raj calls for changing the Constitution

Contrary to perception among some observers that this was a campaign that snowballed, fuelled by 24-hour news channels, he indicated a clear political strategy at play in the interview, published in the latest edition of the weekly which hits the stands tomorrow.

Raj advocated changing Constitutional provisions that give the right to live and work anywhere in the country, compared himself to former US president Thomas Jefferson and cosied up to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati.

Asked if law and order problems would not hurt the state’s development, Raj replied: “To ensure that these people from UP and Bihar do not create a permanent law and order situation in the state, we had to come out on the streets perhaps for a day or so.”

“From Bhagat Singh to Mahatma Gandhi, whoever had to protest had to break the law. But what law have we broken?” he asked.

“There are different ways in which they violated laws but when laws are broken or there are protests, that is when you come to know of the shortcomings in the law and authorities wake up,” he said.

Unless he changed his mind after his arrest and the words of advice from judge S J Sharma to refrain from provoking trouble, Raj said he would not allow political muscleflexing by outsiders in Maharashtra.

“First, we will fold our hands and say we request you. And if they don’t listen, we will move our hands away and confront them,” he said when asked if his campaign would be non-violent.

While many national leaders including BJP’s L K Advani have slammed the MNS campaign against north Indian migrants and reminded the two-year-old organisation that the Constitution allowed people to live and work in any part of the country, Raj questioned the very basis of that provision.

He said the Constitution was made for the people and not the other way round.

“We respect and follow the basic principles. But the details can change and the Constitution can be amended,” Raj said. “The thoughts and ideas the Constitution makers did not consider at that point of time have arisen now.”

“The conditions then were different than those now. What was the population in the cities then and what is it now? Didn’t Thomas Jefferson say that the Constitution of every generation is different? It was Jefferson then and now it is Raj Thackeray.”

But the modern day Jefferson doesn’t mind indulging in goondagiri either, he added.

“If goondagiri means trying to curb their dadagiri then it is acceptable to me to do goondagiri,” he said referring to what he says is the show of strength by north Indian migrants in Maharashtra and the support they receive from the Hindi media.

That though, did not apply to Mayawati, despite the fact that her Bahujan Samaj Party has sought to make inroads into the state and mobilise its large Dalit population.

Mayawati had named towns in her state after leading social reformers from Maharashtra such as Chhatrapati Shahu, Mahatma Phule and Dr Ambedkar, Raj said.

“Our leaders just use these names to gain votes. Others have just brought their leftover politicians to Maharashtra,” Raj said. “This is her way of expressing her indebtedness to Maharashtra. I respect anyone who does this. Why should I criticise her?”

An unkind cut, and a surprising one at that, was reserved for his uncle and mentor Bal Thackeray.

Told that Thackeray senior had supported Amitabh Bachchan — whom Raj had attacked — and indirectly criticised Raj, the MNS chief shot back: “You will understand it when you turn 82.”

“I will not say more than that,” he said when asked to elaborate.

“But I will tell you one thing, the love for the Marathi Manoos in Maharashtra has been passed on through generations from Prabodhankar Thackeray and Balasaheb and has come to me now,” he said, referring to his grandfather and uncle.