Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Thursday defied Mumbai Police to hold a protest march demanding better rail infrastructure for train commuters, a week after 22 people were killed in a stampede at Elphinstone railway station. He had last week called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "liar" and warned that he would not allow the Bullet Train project till all suburban commuters' issues are resolved.
Thackeray had then announced that he would personally lead a morcha to Churchgate on October 5 to oppose the Bullet Train plans and had urged all Mumbaikars to participate in large numbers.
Thackeray was denied police permission to hold the march from Metro cinema to the Western Railway headquarters at Churchgate station. He, however, has defied the administration and holding the protest march anyway.
He is joined by his wife Sharmila, son Amit Thackeray. MNS workers have gathered in a huge number and have also erected a stage on trucks at Churchgate.
On September 29, a stampede on a narrow foot overbridge at the Elphinstone railway station during the rush hour had led to deaths of at least 22 people and injuries to 30.
