Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Friday declared that his party workers would keep guard at toll nakas across the state from June 18 onwards to ensure that the common man is not fleeced. The drive will go on for 15 days.
Warning the government against extorting people in the guise of collecting toll, Mr Thackeray said that his party workers would keep track of each and every vehicle that passes through these toll nakas.
“The contractors do not follow any rules and regulations; there are no facilities made available for people who pay toll,” the MNS chief said.
He claimed that while there are rules regarding running toll nakas, they were being ignored by the authorities.
The MNS chief alleged that there was a disparity in the number of vehicles being declared and those passing through the toll nakas. “From Monday, for the next 15 days, 50 MNS men will remain present at each toll naka to count the number of vehicles passing at each of these points. They will do their job silently, but if someone objects to their interference, there would be an uprising in the state…and no one would be able to stop that,” Mr Thackeray said.
The MNS leader also targeted PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal and said that his condemnation of MNS’ agitation against collection of toll, reflected his own personal interests.
However, although accepting that the system of toll collection in Maharashtra is flawed, the NCP backed its minister Mr Bhujbal and blamed the Shiv Sena-BJP for bringing in the toll menace.
NCP president Madhukar Pichad said that when he was leader of Opposition during the Sena-BJP’s regime, he had warned the government against bringing in the system.
“All problems cannot be resolved by agitations. Toll culture was brought in the state by the Sena-BJP government. I had warned them against bringing in the dangerous system. They wanted to fill their own pockets in the name of development,” Mr Pichad alleged.