Invoking the issue of Marathi pride, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday hit out at North Indians again, after lying low for two days.
In a special article written by him in the Marathi daily Maharashtra Times, Thackeray said, "Even if the whole world opposes my stand, I and my party will continue the struggle to protect Marathi culture, Maharashtrian people and will trample the goondaism of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar."
The article titled "Majhi bhumika, majha ladha" (My stand, my struggle) said, "At this juncture, I feel like asking the Maharashtrian people that if I am voicing your true emotion, then why are you sitting on the fence. Come join me in this struggle."
"Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi took up the issue of Tamils living in Malaysia, then why can't the MNS chief speak for Maharashtrians," the article asked.
Raj said," If the Prime Minister can rake up the issue of ban on turbans for the Sikhs in France when the French President came to India, if Karunanidhi could take up the issue of problems of Tamils in Malaysia with the Malaysian government, if the Hindi channels in Mumbai spew venom against Maharashtra while supporting the people from UP and Bihar, then how come I am dubbed as a goonda when I speak about the self-respect of the state ?".