Dharmendra Jore dharmendra. jore@ mid- day. com DAYS after claiming the saffron title on his late uncle, Bal Thackerayu2019s birth anniversary, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena ( MNS) chief Raj Thackeray reiterated that he wanted illegal migrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh out, and appealed to the Modi government to implement the Citizenship ( Amendment) Act ( CAA) and conduct the National Register of Citizens ( NRC) at the earliest. He asked the Muslims why they were protesting without understanding the law, and why they wanted Muslims from neighbouring countries to be given Indian citizenship. He also warned that the Hindus would counter a stone with a stone, and a sword with a sword, meaning that triggering communal violence would be responded to in a befitting manner.

Thackeray was addressing a huge gathering of saffron flag- carrying party workers and sympathisers whom he led from Hindu Gymkhana to Azad Maidan on Sunday afternoon.