Mumbai, August 03: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray reiterated that the influx of migrants from north India was responsible for the outbreak of malaria and dengue diseases in the state.
According to an official of the Public Health Department, more than 12,000 patients were treated for malaria and dengue in the past two days.
Speaking at a function of the MNS student wing, Raj said, “Migrants coming to the state are the one’s who are carriers of malaria and dengue diseases. The large number of migrants, working in the construction sector, are the main cause for the spread of the two diseases.”
The hospitals run by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation are mainly to treat Marathi people affected by the diseases. But since the migrants in large numbers avail treatment for the malaria and dengue at these hospitals, the Marathi people are finding it difficult to avail hospital facilities, Raj said.
The MNS leader further said, “While the Marathis are struggling to get treatment, the administration and the state government are silent over the pathetic condition of the local people. Their eyes are shut despite Mumbai being in the grip of malaria and dengue. The main disease of the city is not malaria but in my opinion it is the large influx of migrants. However, no one appears to be keen or interested in finding a solution to this problem.”
Raj, who has been vocal about his opposition to the use of English in schools and stressed the name boards of all offices and establishments in the state to be in the local language, has made a volte-face on the issue. Moving away from his hate campaign for English, Raj batted for the language stressing that English be taught in Marathi medium schools.
-Agencies