Two MNS workers arrested over removal of PM Modi’s photo in Pune

Two MNS workers were arrested over the alleged removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's photograph at a Pune government polytechnic. The incident triggered a political confrontation, with BJP youth workers and MNS activists clashing in Mumbai, prompting police detentions

Pune/Mumbai: Police have arrested two workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in connection with the alleged removal of a photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Government Polytechnic in Pune, officials said on Tuesday.

Tensions also flared in Mumbai, as BJP youth wing workers clashed with MNS activists over the issue, leading to police detentions in Dadar and Mahim. Earlier on Monday, a case was registered against MNS leader Amit Thackeray, son of party chief Raj Thackeray, and others for allegedly removing the prime minister’s photograph from an office wall at the institute.

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“Two MNS workers have been placed under arrest for questioning in connection with the incident. Further investigation is underway,” a senior official from Chatushrungi police station said. According to the complaint filed by a college official, Amit Thackeray, who heads the MNS student wing, visited the college on Monday afternoon as part of a membership drive.

He allegedly asked his supporters to remove Modi’s photograph displayed on an office wall next to a portrait of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and photographs of Dr B R Ambedkar and President Droupadi Murmu, as per the complaint. The complainant alleged that Amit Thackeray and others entered the office without permission, removed the photograph, threatened staff members, shouted slogans and created a ruckus.

The police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Maharashtra Police Act. Amit Thackeray on Monday said the first police case against him during his political career arose from an agitation regarding Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. “If the second offence is also registered for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, I will be happy,” he said.

BJP leader Ganesh Bidkar criticised the act, claiming Amit Thackeray had shown political immaturity. Meanwhile, activists of the BJP’s youth wing faced off with MNS supporters outside the party’s office in Mumbai’s Mahim area over the issue on Tuesday.

Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president Krishnaraaj Mahadik led the protest along with several supporters to condemn Thackeray’s act of asking his colleagues to remove PM Modi’s photograph. MNS supporters also gathered and confronted BJP protesters, prompting police to intervene and detain several people to prevent the situation from escalating.

“Our workers were beaten up, and someone even lost a chain. A worker’s gold chain was stolen. Why were goons sent against us? We were protesting peacefully, but MNS sent its goons. Now, we demand that an FIR be filed against the MNS goons,” Mahadik told reporters.

He said the BJP workers had sought CCTV footage of the incident and alleged that they faced MNS supporters at every chowk they crossed.

Mahadik said PM Modi’s photograph was displayed as part of official protocol and accused Thackeray of removing it as a “political stunt”. “I welcome Thackeray raising students’ issues, but we completely reject this hooliganism,” he said.

Referring to the use of the name Aurangabad, Mahadik said the BJP had asked its corporators to remove it from their letterheads as the official name was now Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. “There are photos of the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in Vidhan Bhavan. Should they be removed as well? This ridiculous behaviour should be stopped,” he said.

Meanwhile, Navi Mumbai’s Nerul police went to Raj Thackeray’s residence, Shivtirth, in Dadar to serve a legal notice on Amit Thackeray in connection with a separate controversy involving the alleged unauthorised inauguration of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Nerul.