By IANS,
Mumbai: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) will launch a campaign across the state to train Maharashtrian youths to perform well in the forthcoming railway recruitment examinations and secure jobs, party chief Raj Thackeray said here Wednesday.
The move is a significant shift in the party’s policy which until now has been to oppose the entry of so-called ‘outsiders’ or north Indians and prevent them from writing the railway recruitment examinations in the state, often with violent repercussions.
Thackeray held a mega-conference of all district office-bearers and other senior party workers Wednesday afternoon here to impress upon them the need for maximum Maharashtrians to appear for the railway recruitment exams.
“For this, our office-bearers must organise intensive awareness drives, put up hoardings announcing the dates of the railway recruitment exams, help the students fill up their application forms and other details, put up posters and banners all over the state,” Thackeray ordered party workers.
He directed them that the hoardings must be put up for only three days (Feb 6-8) from next Sunday and must be removed on the fourth day (Feb 9), and they should not carry the photos of the local party office-bearers.
Besides, the party workers must go to all public places like railway stations, bus depots, cinemas, restaurants and colleges to create maximum awareness among Maharashtrian youths about the railway examinations, which are likely to be held this month-end, Thackeray said.
The MNS chief also directed his party workers to print information pamphlets or booklets guiding the Maharashtrian youth on the do’s and don’ts of the pre-examination formalities.
He also put in a word of appreciation for Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee for her decision to permit people to appear for the railway recruitment examinations in their respective mother-tongue across the country.
Two years ago, the MNS had vehemently opposed outsiders from appearing for the railway recruitment examinations in Maharashtra and demanded that priority be given to locals. The agitation led to violent repercussions in various parts of the state, including Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Nashik and other cities.