MNS toll agitation: Mumbai Police detains Raj Thackeray

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has been detained by the Mumbai Police near Chembur when he along with the party workers was out on streets protesting against the collection of tax at toll plazas in the state. Earlier in the day, Thackeray had asked the general public to join the agitation.

"I want the people to come to the streets and join our agitation. This is not my issue. It is the issue of the people of Maharashtra," said Thackeray on Wednesday morning.

He asserted that the government should act on the issue of toll collection on a time-bound basis and not just hold talks. "The government says it is open to talks but that's not enough. I want a time bound programme," he said.

He asserted that the government should act on the issue of toll collection on a time-bound manner and not just hold talks. "The government says it is open to talks but that's not enough. I want a time bound programme," he said. The MNS chief had instructed party workers not to retort to violence in their protest against toll tax.

Nearly 200 MNS activists were rounded up and taken away from near Dahisar toll where they were trying to block traffic. Meanwhile, 50 other workers from Navi Mumbai, 33 from Vasai, 100 from Nashik, 50 from Thane have been taken into preventive custody.

Security has been tightened across the state, especially at toll booths. 250 policemen have been deployed outside Raj Thackeray's residence in Dadar in Mumbai.

On Tuesday, MNS workers had vandalised yet another toll booth at Uran in Maharashtra.

Thackeray is already facing multiple cases for instigating his party cadre to vandalise toll booths across the state.

A notice has already been served to MNS workers under Section 149 actually warning them not to commit cognizable offence or else they are liable to legal action.

A few days ago, MNS workers and supporters dared the Maharashtra government to take action against them as they headed towards Pune, from the city and its suburbs without paying toll, to attend a public meeting to be addressed by their leader Raj Thackeray.