Poll time seems to have ushered in panacea, especially for the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Known for its aggresive sons-of-the soil policy, at times at the cost of inviting negative reactions from non-Maharashtrians, the MNS is ensuring equal opportunities to all attending a job fair it has organised, albeit with an eye on civic elections.
The party’s employment and self-employment cell mulls providing on-the-spot jobs to around 700 youth from all communities in retails outlets, security and information technology companies during its fair on December 25 at Nalini Yashwantrao Daude Vidyalaya, Mulund (East). It’s no surprise then that Opposition parties have jumped to criticise the move.
Charging the MNS with organising the job fair with civic polls in mind, Kishor Joshi, spokesman for city Congress unit, said, “The MNS, has been talking about the interest of Marathi manoos for long and launched an agitation against north Indian autorickshaw drivers. Now, to reap political gains, they are considering non-Maharashtrians for jobs.”
Referring to MNS’s stance over the issue of Marathi-speaking people in Karnataka, Joshi said: “The suggestion that Marathis in Karnataka should stay put was intended at resolving the issue and now this job fair for all. It’s become difficult to gauge what MNS stands for.”
Refuting the charges, the MNS said it did not differentiate job aspirants on the basis of their origin. Stating that the party considered all those living in the state and respecting the local culture as Maharashtrians, Satyawan Dalvi, zonal head (Mulund assembly constituency) of MNS, said, “Scores of people whose first language is not Marathi have been staying for years in Mulund. So, can’t we fight for jobs for their children?”
Insisting that the polls have nothing to do with the MNS job fair, Dalvi said such fairs have been organised by the MNS cell in various regions throughout the year. “The issues we took up were intended at serving people irrespective of where they come from,” he said.
