Sena readies black flags for Rahul visit

The Shiv Sena has decided to welcome Rahul Gandhi to Mumbai with black flags today even as the Congress-NCP state government has said it is determined to ensure nothing goes wrong during his one-day visit.

The Shiv Sena has decided to welcome Rahul Gandhi to Mumbai with black flags today even as the Congress-NCP state government has said it is determined to ensure nothing goes wrong during his one-day visit.

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Taking the war of words between Rahul and the Sena on the migrants-vs-Maharashtr-ians issue further, Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said on Thursday, “We will greet Rahul with black flags across the city as Balasaheb Thackeray has directed us to do so.”

Rahul will visit the city between 9.30 am and 2 pm. He will address students at Bhaidas Hall, Vile Parle, interact with slum youths at Ramabai Nagar, Ghatkopar, as part of the Youth Congress membership drive.

The Sena also issued a fresh threat to Shah Rukh Khan for his statement favouring inclusion of Pakistani players in the IPL. “Shah Rukh should come here [to Mumbai] and say this. By siding with Pakistan, he is siding with Ajmal Kasab and Afzal Guru,” Raut said.

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said Congress workers would take to the streets if the Sena did not stop insulting their leaders. Shah Rukh, in London, stood his ground, and the Sena’s increasingly uneasy ally, BJP, too came out in support of the actor.