Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday received support from unexpected quarters -- Maharashtra's Revenue Minister Narayan Rane who said the MNS leader's stance on Marathi issue was okay but the methods adopted by him weren't.
"We will not let anyone fighting for the cause of Marathi people be isolated", Rane told reporters.
"Raj's stance is alright but his methods are not", the former Shiv Sena leader said.
Maharashtra should get its due share of jobs in Central government and Railways, Rane said.
Railway recruitment exams should be conducted in Maharashtra, Rane said in an obvious reference to Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav's statement that the exams would not be held in Maharashtra till the state government guaranteed safety of candidates.
MNS spokesperson arrested
MNS spokesperson Shirish Parkar and over 10 other party activists were arrested on Wednesday for their alleged role in violence in the city following the arrest of Raj Thackeray.
Sources said Parkar was arrested in a case registered at the Nirmal Nagar police station in connection with violence near the Bandra magistrate's court on Tuesday.
Parkar was arrested from Shivaji Park area where he had gone to receive MNS chief Raj Thackeray who was granted bail, party sources said.
The others were arrested in similar cases registered in other police stations, they said.
A senior police official said 180 persons had been arrested across the city for their involvement in 34 acts of violence that were recorded since yesterday.
"The arrested MNS activists could be wanted in some of the cases and therefore have been arrested," the official said.