The outburst of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray against North Indians and violence by his supporters in Mumbai has drawn widespread criticism, with parties demanding stern action against the guilty.“Vandalism and violation of law and order by activists of Raj Thackeray’s party and support by Shiv Sena is condemnable and totally unjustifiable,” AICC spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said at a press briefing today. Singhvi said Thackeray’s stand against communities in general and Biharis in particular was against the very concept of India. “We cannot divide India, as these parties are trying to do, into narrow walls of obscurantism and intolerance. This is a divisive agenda not only of Raj Thackeray and his party but also of his mentor and teacher Bal Thackeray and the Shiv Sena,” he added.“If it is found at the examination of facts that an offence has been committed under the IPC, and he has violated the Representation of People’s Act justifying derecognition of his party, action should be taken,” said Singhvi, adding an FIR had been registered against him that had to be investigated. The BJP demanded stern action against those who attacked North Indians in Mumbai, but stopped short of naming Raj Thackeray for the violence. Denouncing the “rabid violence designed to destroy social cohesion and harmony” in Maharashtra, BJP spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad said, “For petty political gains, this kind of activities cannot be permitted at all.. We urge the Maharasthra Government to take strong measures to bring the guilty to book.” Prasad said though local sentiments needed to be taken into consideration, the identity of India was important and noted that the Constitution granted equal rights to every citizen to travel and settle anywhere in the country. BJP’s ally Shiv Sena has already condemned the attacks, saying Raj was resorting to violence as he was frustrated because of defeats in the past one year.Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Monday sought Centre’s intervention in Maharashtra, saying the state Government had failed to discharge its constitutional obligation of providing safety and security of life and property of the common people irrespective of their caste and religion.Condemning the violence unleashed by MNS activists, Mayawati said Maharashtra was witnessing mockery of the Constitution while the state Government remained a mute spectator. “Our Constitution gives freedom to all its citizens to settle down in any state of the Union and explore employment opportunities,” she said.“The North Indians cannot be expelled from Mumbai and other places in Maharashtra on the grounds that they were not the son of the soil,” Mayawati said, adding “it’s a matter of great concern that the Maharashtra Government instead of ensuring security of the North Indian population was actively aiding and abetting vandalism by the MNS”. The CPI(M), too, condemned the attacks and asked the Congress-led state Government to take steps to control the situation. “The CPI(M) condemns the attacks on people belonging to North India in Mumbai and certain other places in Maharashtra,” said the CPI(M) politburo in a statement today. Terming the MNS a “parochial political outfit”, the politburo said the incidents were a result of the propaganda of the party led by Raj Thackeray. “This is a result of the propaganda and statements directed against Hindi-speaking people living in Mumbai by a parochial political outfit,” said the CPI(M).
