Stop paying toll till govt brings in transparency: Raj

Asking the state government to bring transparency in toll collection at various nakas, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday appealed to the people from the state not to pay toll henceforth.

"Till the state government does not bring in transparency in the toll collection, nobody should pay at the toll plazas," Raj told reporters at his 'Krushna Kunj' residence in central Mumbai.

However, the MNS chief asserted that he is not against toll. "I am not against toll or payment of taxes, but people should get the services for which they pay," he said.

Urging the government not to exert pressure on the people to pay toll, he said if the people stationed at the toll plazas force the commuters, then his party workers would act accordingly.

"We have deployed our party workers at all the toll plazas and we urge the government not to force the people to pay the toll. We are not interested in coming at loggerheads with the government," he said.

He asked the government to clarify as to what facilities were the people getting by paying toll.

"How much money has been collected from the tolls in the state, the government should reveal that. There are systems across the world and therefore we want to know about it," he added.

"Our MLAs will give a representation in this regard to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan," he said.

He also said non-payment of toll is also applicable for the Bandra-Worli sea-link.

Meanwhile, on the stand-off between NCP and Congress, Raj refused to respond to it, but only mentioned that he "does not understand the political mind-games of NCP chief Sharad Pawar."

On the alleged financial irregularities in construction of Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi, Raj said the government should inquire the matter and added that "they all are tainted", without naming any minister.

Meanwhile, the effect of the appeal made by Raj was seen as MNS partymen reached the toll plazas and asked the commuters not to pay toll.

The MNS workers reached the Bandra-Worli sea-link and asked the people on the route not to pay the toll.

However, they were detained by police and taken away.

Similar scenes were witnessed at toll plazas in neighbouring Thane and Mulund.