Raj Thackeray

Infobox_Indian_politician


name = Raj Thackeray
caption = Raj Thackeray
birth_date = birth date and age|1968|06|14
birth_place = Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
residence = Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
party = Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Founder & President(Since 2006)
religion = Hindu Raj Thackeray ( _mr. राज ठाकरे) (born June 14, 1968) is the founder and president of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (Maharashtra Renaissance Party), which is a regional party in the state of Maharashtra in India. He is the nephew of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.

Career

Once seen as the future leader of Shiv Sena, Thackeray started his political career with Bal Thackeray's Shiv Sena party in Maharashtra. On 9 March 2006, Raj Thackeray formed the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) after being allegedly 'sidelined' by the Bal Thackeray’s son Uddhav. [cite news|url=http://specials.rediff.com/news/2005/dec/01sld1.htm |title=Raj Thackeray: The tiger cub|date=2005-12-01|publisher=Rediff|accessdate=2002-01-03] Shiv Sainiks (Shiv Sena members) who supported Raj’s leadership, in contrast to his cousin Uddhav (Bal Thackeray's son), joined the MNS. The party was founded on the ideology of being the benefactor of the local Marathi population ("Marathi Manoos"), an ideology that the party members felt the Shiv Sena had given up on. He recently became a controversial political figure in India due to his rhetorical speech against people from north India. Incidentally, he has been alleged to promote violence in Mumbai targeting immigrants from north India, particularly from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. His recent statement against actress Amitabh Bachhan [cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080064919&ch=633567722760060000|title=Angry Big B hits back at MNS in blog] and the Mumbai Police Commissioner [cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080064984|title= Raj Thackeray now targets Mumbai joint commissioner] are examples of his continued efforts to woo Maharashtrians by targeting immigrants from north India , cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/File_MNS_wants_job_quota_for_Marathis/articleshow/2938213.cms|title=MNS wants job quota for Marathis|date=2008-04-09|publisher="The Times of India"|accessdate=2008-06-10] He blamed north Indians immigration into the state of Maharastra as the reason for a shortage of jobs for the local Maharashtrians, but the disruptions caused by his actions have caused a reduction in highly paid software service jobs in the state. [cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=333849 accessdate=2008-10-08|title=Infy shifts Pune staff on construction delay|date=2008-09-09|publisher=Business Standard of India] [cite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/topNews/idINIndia-31926620080213?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0|accessdate=2008-04-04|title=Raj Thackeray arrested in Mumbai, gets bail|date=2008-02-13|publisher=Reuters]

Controversies

In February 2008, Raj Thackarey's speech on the issue of uncontrolled migration into Mumbai from other parts of India created a well publicized controversy. Maharashtra's economy leads other states in India and its capital Mumbai has become a magnet to migrant population from the north Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. MNS supporters clashed with activists of the Samajwadi Party, a regional party from Uttar Pradesh leading to street violence. Thackeray also criticized noted film actor turned politician Amitabh Bachchan, a native of Uttar Pradesh, for taking sides in the migrant issue. Bachchan came into fame and fortune in Mumbai's film industry – Bollywood. [ [http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/feb/03mns.htm Jaya takes on Raj; MNS, SP activists clash in Mumbai] ] [ [http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/feb/02raj.htm?zcc=rl Raj Thackeray flays Amitabh for UP interests] ]

Some political pundits attributed Thackarey's support for migrant issue an election gimmick and an attempt at gaining publicity for 2009 elections in the state. Others called it a strategy to embarrass Shiv Sena, which is increasingly wooing north Indian votes. [ [http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/feb/08mns.htm?zcc=rl Analysis: What drove Raj Thackeray's party to violence] ]

Thackeray, along with Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi, was arrested by the Mumbai Police on February 13, 2008 under section Section 135 A of the Indian Penal Code. [ [http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/feb/13raj.htm Mumbai: Raj Thackeray held, Abu Azmi out on bail] ] He was granted bail on the same day. [ [http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080041168&ch=2/13/2008%206:58:00%20PM Raj Thackeray granted bail] ] On 1 October 2008, a non-bailable arrest warrant was issued by a Bihar court against himy for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Biharis. [ [http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Oct12008/national2008100193069.asp?section=updatenews Non-bailable warrant against Raj Thackeray] ]

On 6 October 2008, Shiv Sena activists held rallies against Raj Thackeray after he suggested that Bal Thackeray no longer wrote the editorials for the Shiv Sena party newspaper Saamana in order to explain away negative coverage of himself without criticizing his mentor. [ [http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Shiv-Sainiks-burn-Raj-Thackeray--s-effigy/369952/ Shiv Sainiks burn Raj Thackeray's effigy] ]

During a Non-Resident Maharashtrian Day interview with Maharashtra Times, Thackeray claimed that if he had been Chief Minister of Maharashtra the Tata Nano would have been produced in the state in spite of his record of job destruction. He again called non-Marathis residing or born in the state outsiders who are now living in fear thanks to his actions and claimed that future agitations of his party will be even more intense. [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Mumbai/Nano_wouldnt_be_with_Gujarat_if_I_was_the_CM_of_Maharashtra_Raj_Thackeray/rssarticleshow/3576322.cms Nano wouldn't be with Gujarat if I was the CM of Maharashtra: Raj Thackeray] ]

References

In september 2008 Mr Thackrey was involved in a feud with Mrs Jaya Amitabh Bacchan over anti marathi comments at the film premiere of the movie "Drona" which stars Abhishek Bacchan.After a public apology by Mr Amitabh Bacchan the matter was resolved.

External links

* [http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Do-political-movements-need-to-obey-the-law-What-about-Advani-rath-yatra-Modis-Godhra-outrage/276266/ Raj Thackerey's response in "The Indian Express" to Sudheendra Kulkarni's criticism]
* [http://www.meemarathi.tv/marathiworld/categories.php?cat_id=188 Cartoons created by Raj Thackerey]