Raj Thackeray to address North Indian community

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray who is known for his anti-migrant stand will have a public interaction with North Indian community next month.

Raj Thackeray has accepted the invitation extended by the Uttar Bharatiya Mahapanchayat. The public meeting is expected on December 2.

"The Uttar Bharatiya Mahapanchayat wanted to hold an exchange of ideas and thoughts with Raj saheb. Many members of the NGO have been living in Maharashtra for 2 to 3 generations. There is nothing wrong in exchange of thoughts," MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande, a close confidante of Raj, said on Wednesday.

"Whatever misunderstandings are there should be cleared," said Vinay Dube of the Uttar Bharatiya Mahapanchayat, who is spearheading the group that comprises of people originally hailing from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

The development is politically significant as Raj has become close to Sharad Pawar-led NCP, which wants him to be the part of Congress-led 'Mahagathbandhan' the grand alliance. However, Congress feels that including Raj in the grand alliance would affect them politically in UP and Bihar.