Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Tuesday night asked his party workers to stop the influx of people into Mumbai warning of a 'big disaster' if they failed to do so.
Addressing Shiv Sainiks at Rang Sharda auditorium in Mumbai about the Mee Mumbaikar programme, Thackeray said, "Shiv Sena is not leaving its Hindutva stance. We were born a Hindu and will die as a Hindu. But we want every Mumbaikar to save this city from the brink."
"For 55 years outsiders have come and settled down in this city, but now it is the duty of every Mumbai citizen to stop the influx of people from other states and demolish illegal zopadpattis (slum clusters) in the city," Thackeray said.
Before Thackeray's speech, a slideshow presentation was made to the Shiv Sainiks and reporters highlighting the deteriorating condition of the city. There were 229 pictures of different slum clusters shown during the presentation.
Thackeray was particularly critical of Bangladeshi Muslims and claimed that they have occupied lot of territory in the city and must be thrown out.
"Already Tansa lake which supplies water to the city is depleting. The day the water in this lake is over these Bangladeshis will also disappear from the city. So who will suffer? We the Mumbaikars. So, Mee Mumbaikar means all the people who are present here. So save this city from disaster," Thackeray said.
Criticising West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya for supporting the Bangladeshis, he said, "If he wants them in West Bengal let him take all these people over there. We have no problems."
Reacting to the reports that a marketing company had put out an ad specifically asking for people from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Nepal to apply, he said, "How can someone do this in the city? Aren't there other North Indians in the city who can get this job? He (company) says 'Marathi Manus are not good people; they are cheats'. Don't we have any self-respect left? How dare he (company) say that? We have learnt Hindi because of North Indians. Have they learnt Marathi after staying in Mumbai for so many years?"
He said the country was facing a threat from Students Islamic Movement of India, Lashkar-e-Tayiiba and the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence
"The children of Mangal Pandey in Uttar Pradesh will have to unite with the Maharashtrians to fight against these people. The reason is only one and that is Hindutva. We all have one thing in common between us -- that we all are Hindus," he said.