Zeenews BureauMumbai, April 09: After attacking North Indians in general and Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan in particular, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has now taken on private firms operating in the Western state. It has demanded 80% job reservation
for Marathi-speaking locals in private sector and threatened
to launch agitation if this is not done, drawing strong
protest from the industries.
In the letter dispatched to six private firms operating in Maharashtra, the MNS has asked them to fill at least 80% of the posts with locals or ‘bhoomiputras’ – those who had been living in the state for the past 15 years. If the companies failed to heed to the MNS call, they won’t be allowed to function in the state, the letter said.
The MNS is also holding an emergency meeting today, which is being attended by party workers from all over the state.
The MNS also warned the industries that if this was not
done then they would launch an agitation.
The MNS move has drawn the protest of the industries
which contended such a stand violated fundamental rights of
Indians.
"We oppose any such move since it violates the
fundamental rights of Indian citizens to stay anywhere in the
country and practice the vocation they want," Sushil Kumar
Jiwaraka, FICCI's western region chief, said.
He said "people from all walks of life and from different
regions of the country have contributed to Mumbai's success.
Therefore, they have an equal claim to jobs in Mumbai. Today's
statement is a very divisive statement to make," he added.
The threat to private firms follows MNS workers’ recent attacks on North Indians working in Maharashtra for allegedly snatching away jobs from Marathi people.
Party chief Raj Thackeray had also launched a scathing attack on Amitabh Bachchan, accusing him of doing nothing for the state where he had been living and working for the past four decades. Thackeray had said the actor was instead more worried about Uttar Pradesh, where he was born.