MNS workers throw ink, betel nuts towards advocate Sadavarte's car in Jalna; 5 detained

Police detained five workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS in Jalna city of the state on Saturday after they allegedly threw ink and betel nuts towards the car of advocate Gunaratna Sadavarte, officials said. According to the police, Sadavarte was on a visit to Jalna on Saturday when some MNS workers threw ink and betel nuts towards the vehicle.

Police detained five workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in Jalna city of the state on Saturday after they allegedly threw ink and betel nuts towards the car of advocate Gunaratna Sadavarte, officials said. The incident, which occurred near Vishal Corner in the evening, triggered tension in the area, following which police were deployed there in large numbers. The MNS workers apparently targeted Sadavarte for his recent remarks against party leaders. According to the police, Sadavarte was on a visit to Jalna on Saturday when some MNS workers threw ink and betel nuts towards the vehicle. Sadavarte's wife and daughter were reportedly also inside the car. Nobody was injured in the incident, they said. The Chandanzhira police later detained five MNS workers, including the party's Jalna city president Rahul Ratnaparkhe, for questioning. The protest is believed to be a fallout of Sadavarte's recent remarks against MNS chief Raj Thackeray and his son Amit Thackeray, who favour the state government's mandate to auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers that they should speak Marathi. Sadavarte had mocked Amit Thackeray over his warning that his party workers would ''teach a lesson in MNS style'' to anyone obstructing Marathi autorickshaw drivers during a strike by taxi and rickshaw unions. Talking to reporters over the incident, Sadavarte claimed that Raj Thackeray's men threw some ''harmful liquid'' on his car to hurt him. Attacking the MNS chief, he said, ''Your ideology is of low level ...I am ready to engage in an ideological battle with you.''