Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray criticized migrant Labourers for the poor condition of drains and rivers in Mumbai, accusing them of illegally settling around these water bodies and burdening the city’s amenities.

In a speech delivered during the fifth foundation ceremony of his party’s disaster management wing in Dadar, Raj Thackeray pointed fingers at migrant Labours as the primary cause of the ongoing drainage problems in Mumbai. Thackeray expressed his concerns, stating, “The migrants come to Mumbai and ‘illegally’ settle around these drains and rivers by erecting huts, creating menace and putting a burden on amenities.”

Thackeray further criticized the state government for its apparent lack of attention towards the sprawling slums formed by migrants in Mumbai. He called for an investigation into the reasons behind the clogging of drains in the city, stating, “It should be inquired as to why the drains are getting clogged in Mumbai. People from outside the state come and settle down around these drains and rivers. All the dirt is then thrown there, and they get clogged.”