MNS chief cuts cake with Owaisi’s image

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS chief Raj Thackeray stoked another controversy, as he celebrated his 48th birthday by cutting a cake with All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS chief Raj Thackeray stoked another controversy, as he celebrated his 48th birthday by cutting a cake with All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi’s (AIMIM ) face on it.

HT Image

Thackeray has criticised Owaisi and his brother Akbaruddin on several occasions in the past. When the cake was brought to him, he pierced the knife into it, attracting applause.

Both the brothers from Hyderabad have made impressive inroads in Maharashtra politics. They won two seats in the 2014 assembly elections, compared to one by the MNS. The AIMIM refused to comment on it. “We do not wish to comment on such frivolous issues,” AIMIM legislator Waris Pathan said.

Meanwhile, thousands of MNS workers gathered outside Thackeray’s house at Dadar. Many got saplings, as Thackeray has been advocating that instead of spending on bouquets, people should spend on planting saplings in their locality. Mangesh Vaigankar, 38, who comes to greet Thackeray on his birthday every year, was one of them. Wajid Khan, a nail artist, presented a portrait of nails to Thackeray. Many ambulances, too, were inaugurated on the occasion.