Was Dadar blast a message to MNS, Shiv Sena?

The Mumbai police believe that while selecting a crowded area in the vicinity of Kabutarkhana and Shiv Sena headquarters in Dadar for triggering blasts, the terrorists had a twin objective -- to create trouble in an area dominated by the Marathi-speaking middle-class and destabilise political equations.

The headquarters of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and the residence of its chief Raj Thackeray were also situated a few minutes away from the blast site. Nearly 80 per cent people in the area support either MNS or Shiv Sena, the state's main Opposition.

Police believe the terrorists wanted to hurt the sentiments of a large number of Marathi-speaking people supporting Shiv Sena or MNS.

In the aftermath of the blasts, the Shiv Sena has strongly criticised the state government and the Centre for not having intelligence inputs.

Shiv Sena leader Subhash Desai hit out at the government's failure to maintain law and order. On the other hand, Raj Thackeray said Mumbai would continue to be a target for terrorists. He also criticised increasing migration into the city, especially from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

A police official, who did not want to be identified, said, "The blast on Wednesday took place just outside a school near the bus stop, that too in the evening.  In 1993, terrorists had planted a bomb at the petrol pump just opposite the Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar. One major relief is that there was no casualty, though some people were injured. Similarly, all political parties and residents of Dadar have shown calm to restore normalcy."

The official said the blast took place ahead of the elections to the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation, slated for February next year.

A Congress leader, who is also a senior member of the state party executive, said Dadar was an easy target as it is largely dominated by Hindus with a large presence of Marathi-speaking people.

"This has been a stronghold of Shiv Sena and now even MNS is trying to increase its presence here. The blast happened at a time when the Shiv Sena is stepping up its attack against the Congress-led government at the Centre for its alleged appeasement of minorities. On the other hand, Raj Thackeray is not leaving any opportunity for taking a swipe against non-Maharashtrians," he said.

He expressed hope that the state government and the Mumbai police would take all necessary steps to avoid any communal tension ahead of coming civic elections.