The squads, to be called Atma Raksha Dal, would comprise 20 members each and protect interests of the poor people like hawkers and taxi drivers, who are normally target of MNS attacks, MPCC spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam said.

The squad members would be required to report about an incident to the nearest police station and "take all necessary steps to prevent any harm to local populace", he said.

"Let me make it clear that the squad members will never adopt the role of an aggressor. They will react only in the event of an attack," the former Rajya Sabha member said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had said on Monday that he would allow Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav to peform `chhat puja' in Mumbai and attend the same.

In his May 3 public rally speech in Mumbai, Raj had dared the RJD chief to hold the chhat puja (a popular festival in Bihar) in the state capital which has a sizeable north Indian population.

"Let him come here....we will see how he returns," Raj had warned.