Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has slammed Bollywood actor Nana Patekar for supporting the street vendors and said he should not speak on subjects about which he knew nothing. Nana Patekar had recently criticised the latest MNS drive against hawkers, saying ‘hawkers too have the right to exist’
Patekar, while speaking at an event at the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) on Friday, had said street vendors were not at fault and that they were only working to satiate their hunger.
"We cannot take away their source of livelihood.... Actually, it is our mistake. Why did we not question the municipal corporation and administration that why were these street vendors not provided a place all this while? We are responsible, not the street vendors," he had said.
Slamming Patekar over his comments, the Raj Thackrey said he was a good actor, but he should not talk of issues he knew nothing about. “If he (Patekar) thinks it was the government’s job to take care of the street vendors, why did he start his (NAAM) foundation? It was the government’s job to ensure that water reached everybody. Why did you not ask the government to do its job?” he asked.