Raj Thackeray's rally gets Mumbai cops' nod

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, which carried a violent campaign against North Indians in Maharashtra, has been granted permission by police to hold a rally in neighbouring Thane on Saturday on condition that party chief Raj Thackeray does not make any provocative statements.

"We have granted conditional permission to hold a meeting. The permission refrains the party from making any provocative statements that harm peace in the city and violate Indian Penal Code," Tukaram Chavan, Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Thane, told PTI.

"Adequate security will be in place to avert any untoward incident," he said.

Thackeray, whose party has been carrying out anti-North Indian agitation, is likely to launch MNS' campaign for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections at the rally.

"Raj Thackeray has never made any provocative statement. Whatever conditions have been put up by the police are normal," said MNS spokesperson Shirish Parkar.

"We stand by whatever Thackeray has said. Only Maharashtra Day, August 15 and January 26 should be celebrated in the state," said Parkar, indicating Uttar Pradesh Diwas, which falls on Saturday, would not be allowed to be celebrated in Maharashtra.

The party has already warned that it would not allow Uttar Pradesh Diwas to be celebrated in Maharashtra.

Thackeray is also expected to reply to criticism on his whereabouts during the November 26 terror strikes in Mumbai and declare his party's stand on reservation.