Amit removes Modi’s photo from govt college

Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena President Amit Thackeray’s outreach to GenZ students in Pune began with a political row after some supporters yanked off an official photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the Government Polytechnic College Principal’s office in Shivajinagar.

The son of MNS President Raj Thackeray, Amit had ostensibly gone to inspect facilities for the students in the hostel and college when a youngster pointed out to the picture of PM displayed beside the portraits of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, and lastly the President.

At this, Amit quizzed the Principal about the placement of the photograph, and taking a cue, some unidentified MNS supporters quickly removed it from the wall – as some students and party workers raised slogans of ‘Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai’ and a video of the incident went viral and blew up a political storm.

“A student drew my attention to the photo placement, next to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj… Do not elevate Modi to the level of these revered personalities. It should be displayed elsewhere, we shall not tolerate any insult to the Chhatrapati,” Amit said sharply to mediapersons.

Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Navnath Ban slammed Amit for the act, terming it as “an insult to Prime Minister Narendra Modi” who is holding a Constitution post, and demanded strict action against the MNS leader.

Referring to the criticism, Amit shot back: “If they are condemning this, ask them if a comparison between Modi and the Chhatrapati is acceptable to them…tomorrow, will they place Modi’s picture in a Devghar (temple)?”

Cops book Amit Thackeray

On Monday evening, the Chaturshringi Police Station in Pune lodged an offence against Amit Thackeray and around two dozen supporters for trespassing into the college and the Principal’s premises, removing the photo of the PM – which returned to the same spot hours later – and other charges.

The incident occurred at the first stop of Amit’s 7-college tour to address students’ grievances, academic concerns, administrative shortcomings, coming a week after Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi held ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ in Pune.