The Bharatiya Janata Party has organised a city-wide protest on Saturday demanding an apology from MVA leaders, particularly from the Thackeray Sena, for their “insulting” remarks about Hindu deities and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. The agitation coincides with the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s morcha against the government. Faced with the competing protests, Mumbai police went into overdrive and readied thousands of cops to maintain law and order on Saturday. 

Ashish Shelar, city BJP chief, told a media conference on Friday that Thackeray Sena MP Sanjay Raut had misinformed about the birthplace of Dr Ambedkar and deputy leader Sushma Andhare had made objectionable remarks about  Hindu Gods. He demanded an apology from the leader and sought an explanation from Uddhav Thackeray on whether he approved of the remarks. “This Andolan will be held all over the city. We will show them the black flag,” he said.