Mumbai, Jan 1 : The Republican Left Democratic Front has fielded Farhan Azmi, son of Samajwadi Party (SP) Maharashtra unit president Abu Asim Azmi as its candidate for the assembly by-election from Bhivandi town in neighbouring Thane district, an

office-bearer said Friday.

Accompanied by several thousand supporters, Farhan marched from the Samajwadi Party office to the election office Friday afternoon to file his nomination papers.

Soon, Samajwadi Party legislator Abu Asim Azmi may be able to respond to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray’s verbal attacks in his own language.

Azmi, days after being beaten up for taking oath in Marathi and being felicitated by his party for ‘upholding the honour of Hindi’, has now decided to learn Marathi.

The newfound hero of the north Indian migrant population in Maharasthra, the Samajwadi Party Maharashtra MLA, Abu Azmi in Lucknow on Tuesday said he would fight till the last drop of his blood for the migrants’ honour. He called Maharashtra and Mumbai a mini-Uttar Pradesh and invited people to work there.

Azmi, who undoubtedly is the best thing that has happened to the party at this point in time promised to strength the party in Maharashtra and launch a campaign on Babri mosque demolition anniversary to win Muslims back to the party.

Pro-tem Speaker of the Assembly Ganpatrao Deshmukh on Wednesday ordered an inquiry into Samajwadi Party legislator Abu Azmi’s behaviour inside the Assembly, and his alleged remarks against Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.

This came after Shiv Sena legislators forced the House to adjourn thrice, demanding Azmi’s arrest. Sena leaders protested Azmi’s alleged statements on Tuesday, in which he described Thackeray as “old and childlike”. Before that, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) legislators alleged that Azmi had provoked them on Monday by his actions.

Mumbai, Nov 10 - Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi, who was Monday attacked by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) legislators in the assembly, Tuesday reiterated that Raj Thackeray should be arrested for the assault.

Azmi said he was not satisfied with the suspension of the four MNS legislators who attacked him in the assembly for taking his oath in Hindi instead of Marathi.

He pointed out that since MNS chief Raj Thackeray had "instigated and inspired" the attacks, he should be held responsible for the actions of his party legislators and be arrested immediately.

The Samajwadi Party leader said several experts had told him that the suspension of the legislators for four years could be revoked if the MNS tenders an apology.

New Delhi, Nov 9 : The Congress today termed the slapping of Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) legislators in Maharashtra Assembly for taking oath in Hindi, as highly condemnable, saying it was a bias against the national language.

Mumbai, Nov 9 : Samajwadi Party activists protested the attacks on their state chief Abu Asim Azmi by pelting stones at state transport buses in Thane district, police said.

A mob of Samajwadi Party workers pelted stones at three state transport buses in Bhiwandi town of Thane district, the constituency of Azmi.

There were no reports of any casualties in the incident in which police arrested over 10 activists. Besides, other activists of the party, including the city party chief and two municipal corporators, were also arrested.

Mumbai, Nov 9 : Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) legislator Ram Kadam, who was seen slapping and hitting Samajwadi Party lawmaker Abu Asim Azmi inside the Maharashtra assembly Monday, claimed that Azmi had insulted the "11 crore Maharashtrians" by taking the oath in Hindi.

Interacting with mediapersons outside the Maharashtra legislature, Kadam said that the MNS had "requested him with folded hands" to take the oath in Marathi "but that man (Azmi) did not heed us".

Mumbai (Maharashtra), Nov 9 : There was pandemonium on the first day of the new Maharashtra assembly today when Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) legislators roughed up Samajwadi Party MLA, Abu Azmi for taking oath of office in Hindi.

As Azmi started to take his oath in Hindi, several MNS members swooped on him and pushed him aside. Legislator Ramesh Banjle uprooted the microphone from the podium.

Mumbai, Nov 9 - There was pandemonium on the first day of the new Maharashtra assembly Monday when Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) legislators roughed up Samajwadi Party member Abu Asim Azmi for taking the oath of office in Hindi.

As Azmi started to take his oath in Hindi, several MNS members swooped on him and pushed him aside. Legislator Ramesh Banjle uprooted the microphone from the podium.

As Azmi attempted to save himself, MNS member Ram Kadam slapped him and hit him on the face and chest, shocking the 288-member house that had converged for the oath-taking ceremony. (IANS)

Mumbai, Nov 9 : There was pandemonium on the first day of the new Maharashtra assembly Monday when Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) legislators roughed up Samajwadi Party member Abu Asim Azmi for taking the oath of office in Hindi.

As Azmi started to take his oath in Hindi, several MNS members swooped on him and pushed him aside. Legislator Ramesh Banjle uprooted the microphone from the podium.

As Azmi attempted to save himself, MNS member Ram Kadam slapped him and hit him on the face and chest, shocking the 288-member house that had converged for the oath-taking ceremony. (IANS)

Mumbai, Feb 13 : Maharashtra still remains tensed with migrant labourers leaving the state, even after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi were granted bail on surety of 15, 000 and 10,000 rupees respectively on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Mumbai Police arrested Thackeray and Azmi for "promoting" enmity between groups.

Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil had to cut short his visit to Latur following reports of Thackeray's arrest.

Mumbai, Feb 13: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi, who were arrested by Mumbai Police earlier in the day, on Wednesday were granted bail on surety of 15, 000 and 10,000 rupees respectively.

Azmi and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray were arrested for "promoting" enmity between groups.

Soon after the Thackeray was arrested, MNS workers went on rampage across the city. The police had to resort to baton-charge on the workers protesting outside the Vikroli Court, where Thackeray has been produced.

Protests were also reported from Nashik, Pune, Thane and Kolhapur.

Protestors were reported to have pelted stones at 30 buses in Nashik. (ANI)

Mumbai, Feb 13 : Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi, who was arrested by Mumbai Police earlier in the day, was granted bail on surety of 10,000 rupees on Wednesday.

Azmi and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray were arrested for "promoting" enmity between groups.

Soon after the Thackeray was arrested, MNS workers went on rampage across the city. The police had to resort to baton-charge on the workers protesting outside the Vikroli Court, where Thackeray has been produced.

Protests were also reported from Nashik, Pune, Thane and Kolhapur.