Activists of Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Sunday attacked centres conducting railway recruitment examination in suburban Mumbai to protest against the "inadequate representation" to locals and chased away candidates from north India.
More than 30 MNS activists have been arrested from Dombivali, Thane, Andheri and Nala Sopara for disrupting the exam, tearing test papers and pelting stones on candidates, police said.
"What is wrong if they are protesting against the "inadequate representation" to locals in the exam," MNS leader Shishir Shinde said.
"Railway officer should understand the meaning of our protest and allow more Marathi candidates for the examination," he said. "MNS activists would meet railway officials soon," he added.
In November 2003, supporters of Raj Thackeray, who was then with the Shiv Sena, disrupted a Railway Board exam in Kalyan by preventing candidates from other states, mainly north Indians, from appearing the exam.