Raj at it again, may face action

Mon, May 5 01:00 AM

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray could face legal action for his comments against north Indian migrants at his party's rally in Shivaji Park on Saturday. "We are taking legal opinion on the statements Thackeray made.

Action would be taken against him if any of the statements are found to be derogatory in nature," said Police Commissioner Hasan Gafoor. In his 70-minute speech, Thackeray took potshots at actor Amitabh Bachchan, Railway Minister Lalu Yadav, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati and Samajwadi Party leaders Amar Singh and Abu Azmi.

His statements have also drawn sharp reactions from activists of the Samajwadi Lohiya Vahini in Varanasi and former Maharashtra home minister and Congress leader Kripashankar Singh. "No one should be allowed to speak against north Indians working in Mumbai as it would weaken national unity and integrity and cause social disorder.

The state government and law should deal strictly with such people," said Kripashankar. Samajwadi Lohiya Vahini activists burnt posters of Thackeray in Varanasi on Sunday.

The BJP, too, criticised Thackeray's speech but with an added nationalist twist. "We do not approve of dividing people on the basis of regions.

It is the Bangladeshi migrants who should be shown the door, not our brothers from UP or Bihar," state BJP chief Nitin Gadkari said. "This is simply old wine in a new bottle.

In the 60s, the Shiv Sena came to power on the strength of a similar sons-of-the-soil theory," said Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) general secretary Gurunath Kulkarni. "That time the enemy was south Indians.

Now, Thackeray has targeted north Indians." Meanwhile, Thackeray's provocative speech has evoked widespread criticism in Bihar.

While the secretary general of RJD Ram Kripal Yadav said that Lalu Prasad was one leader who would not cow down under empty threats and the proposed Chhath Puja would take place in Mumbai. Bihar Pradesh Samata Party chief Shatrunjay Prasad Pandey has demanded the immediate arrest of the MNS Chief and dismissal of Deshmukh government for its abject surrender.

Joining the issue, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said that the Congress should order immediate arrest of Thackeray for instigating people against north Indians. The Patna Mahanagar RJD took out a protest march demanding a ban on MNS and also burnt an effigy of Raj Thackeray.

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