Raj Thackeray's campaign is in Maharashtra's interest: MNS

MUMBAI:  Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Tuesday claimed the agitation launched against north Indian migrants by its chief Raj Thackeray was in the "interest" of the state and asserted he will not seek anticipatory bail in the case filed against him.
    
"Whatever he has said is in the interest of Maharashtra. Where is the question of his seeking anticipatory bail," MNS spokesperson Shishir Shinde said.
    
Meanwhile, there was a strong police presence around the Dadar residence of Raj, against whom city police has registered an FIR for allegedly spreading enmity between groups.
    
A strong media contingent was stationed in the area in the heart of the city awaiting news about his possible arrest as the charges against him are cognisable and non-bailable. But as the day wore on, the possibility of his arrest waned.
    
"If an arrest is to be made, it will not be towards end of the court closing time," a police official said. Courts close at around 1700 hrs.
    
Police have said Raj and Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi will be arrested for making provocative statements which resulted in violence across the city last week, but declined to say when the action would take place.
    
Police had registered cases against Raj and Azmi at separate police stations under IPC Sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153 A (promoting enmity between groups on the basis of place of birth, residence, etc), 153 B (assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 117 (abetting the commission of an
offence by the public).