Raj Thackeray to Turn Milkman

His party will start a milk distribution service to challenge the control of north Indians

MUMBAI ~ Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray staked his claim to national fame by getting his party workers to beat up taxiwallahs in Mumbai some years ago. This was solely because they were migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and it helped him create a constituency among Maharashtrians afraid of ‘bhaiyyas’  taking over their land. And now, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections slated for early next year, he will turn a milkman as part of the same political ploy.

His party, the MNS will sell its own brand of milk, called Mumbai Milk, as an alternative to that supplied by bhaiyyas who have been traditionally running this business in the city. The milk distribution services will start before the BMC polls, and will be handled by the employment cell of the MNS. Only ‘sons of the soil’ will be provided employment through this business.

Besides milk distribution, north Indians in Mumbai have also traditionally controlled laundry services and taxi and auto-rickshaw operations. MNS sources say the party will gradually enter all other essential services currently handled by the city’s migrants.