The Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, whose elected members assaulted Samajwadi Party legislator Abu Azmi in the Maharashtra assembly for taking oath in Hindi, on Tuesday warned him on speaking against Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.
Shortly after Shiv Sainiks gheraoed Azmi in the Vidhan Bhawan premises for his anti-Thackeray remarks, MNS legislators also came out in defence of the 83-year-old Thackeray.
Commenting on an editorial in Sena mouthpiece on Tuesday, Azmi had remarked, "Thackeray has gotten old and speaks like a child."
"MNS will not tolerate a single word against Balasaheb. We will force Azmi to leave Mumbai if he speaks anything against Thackeray," MNS group leader in the assembly, Bala Nandgaokar, told mediapersons.
Thackeray is like God for lakhs of people in Maharashtra and no one will tolerate anything against him, he said.
Four MNS MLAs were suspended on Monday from the Maharashtra assembly for assaulting Azmi after he took oath in Hindi.
The MNS is seeking legal advice over the suspension, Nandgaokar said.
Sena leader Subhash Desai also condemned the statement of Azmi and said, "Sena will teach Azmi a lesson in its own style."
"The Sena would also be meeting Home Minister R R Patil to complain about Azmi," he said.
