After Shiv Sena activists and supporters of Congress leader Narayan Rane clashed outside Dadar railway station late on Tuesday night, both sides blamed each other for initiating the violence.
Seven people, including three policemen, were injured.
The Railways had announced 14 special trains to Konkan, beginning from Tuesday, ahead of Ganeshotsav.
Both sides had gathered in large numbers outside Dadar station to claim credit for the Dadar-Sawantwadi train.
“Our members of parliament in Delhi had asked railway minister Mamata Banerjee for the special trains,” said Milind Vaidya, Sena leader from Mahim. “The train was started only because of the Sena’s efforts. It is natural that our MPs should flag off the train. In spite of that, Rane reached the venue to claim credit.”
Vaidya alleged that Rane supporters pelted stones at the Shiv sainiks. “When the news spread, around 1,000 Shiv sainiks from the nearby areas rushed to the spot,” said Arvind Bhosale, another Sena leader from Worli.
However, Rane supporters claimed that the Sena wanted to snatch credit from Rane. “Sena activists threw soda bottles at us, but we could not respond as they put women activists in the front line,” said Sharad Sakre of the Swabhiman Sanghatana, headed by Rane’s son Nitesh.
He refused to reveal the number of injured activists, saying there were no major injuries. Bhosale, however, claimed that Rane supporters were admitted to private hospitals to avoid a police complaint.
Since the city has a huge population from the Konkan area, politicians have always used the Konkan Railway as a tool to woo Mumbai voters.
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