Mumbai: MNS activists storm into Zara store in Lower Parel, warn against selling 'Made in Pakistan' clothes

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists on Tuesday barged into a clothing and accessories retailer showroom and warned it against selling Pakistan-manufactured clothing pieces.

The activists of Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS), the students' wing of MNS, stormed into Zara's showroom at High Street Phoenix mall in Lower Parel and warned the management to stop selling Pakistan-manufactured clothes, reported Mid-Day.

The Asian Age reported that the MNS workers raised slogans, pulled down clothes and trampled upon them.

Mid-Day quoted MNVS vice-president Akhil Chitre as saying, "Pakistan is killing our people and jawan and we are selling their clothes. The country has implicated Mumbai's Kulbhushan Jadhav and even after a request from our government, they want to hang him on false pretexts. If they will not stop selling, then we will start agitation MNS-style."

He added, "The whole country is against this and considering people's emotions, Zara should stop selling Pakistan-made clothes. We had gone to meet the showroom management and request them to stop, however, because the staff adamantly said that they had permission and would continue to sell, a few party workers went in and an altercation occurred."

The Asian Age has quoted Deputy commissioner of police Pravin Padwal as saying, “Ten protesters, including corporator Datta Narvankar has been arrested under IPC section 143 (unlawful assembly) in front of a ZARA showroom. The accused have got bail after the arrest. Further investigations are on.”

The daily reported that the MNS workers had, on Monday night, visited the showroom and gave its staff a letter.

The letter, a copy of which is available with The Asian Age, reads: “Soldiers, policemen and innumerable citizens of the country are being maimed and killed regularly by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists, and the Marathi manoos in Mumbai has also not been spared by these terrorists…. Just yesterday, the Pakistan government awarded the death sentence to India’s soldier Kulbhushan Jadhav on false charges.”

“In spite of such atrocious behaviour, Pakistani-made clothes are being sold in India, which is alarming patriotic Indians… The money made by trade with India is being used by Pakistan to spread terror… In light of this, you are asked to immediately discontinue the sale of Pakistani-made clothes in your store.”