MNS supporters celebrate Raj Thackeray's birthday

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists on Saturday celebrated their leader Raj Thackeray's 40th birthday by organising blood donation camps and other social activities.
    
However, the party refrained from holding a proposed 'Hatt Puja' programme, a take-off on the 'Chhat Puja' performed by north Indians, which has become a bone of contention between the MNS and migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
    
Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has earlier said he will attend the Chhat Puja celebrations in Mumbai later this year.
    
Over 20,000 supporters visited the MNS chief's home at Dadar and greeted their leader, MNS spokesperson Shirish Parkar said.
    
On reports that MNS would soon target unauthorized hutments and encroachments of footpaths, he said Raj would submit letters to civic, rationing and transport authorities for clamping down on encroachments and illegal migrants.
    
"Footpaths are for taxpayers and MNS is going to do something about it," an MNS worker said.