Police detain Sainiks to scuttle protests

Several Shiv Sena activists were picked up by police late on Thursday in a preventive measure ahead of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the city.

Sena leader Bal Thackeray has asked his workers to greet Gandhi with black flags in protest against his statement that all places in India, including Mumbai, belong to all Indians.

The Sena and its offshoot, the MNS, have been claiming that the city is the exclusive preserve of the Marathi people.

Police have also beefed up security at the places that Gandhi is scheduled to visit. Police chief D Sivanandhan said, “Gandhi will be attending meetings at two places, one at Ramabai Nagar and the other at Bhaidas Hall. Security and traffic arrangements have been made at these places.”

About Shah Rukh Khan, who has also been a target of the Sena’s ire for saying that Pakistani players ought to have been part of the Indian Premier League’s third season, Sivanandhan said the actor was not in the city and had not asked for security. “But we will be providing security whether he demands it or not.”