Anti-Bihari remark: Parties seek action against Raj Thackeray

MNS chief Raj Thackeray's 'anti-Bihari' remarks on Friday created a furore in the state with political parties on Saturday asking the Centre to take strong action against him for his divisive comments.

BJP leader Giriraj Singh condemning Thackeray said he should be booked on charges of sedition for attacking the unity and integrity of the country.

The Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) chief's anti-Bihari jibe on Friday was also violative of Constitution and parliamentary democracy which allowed the citizens to settle down in any part of the country, Singh, also the state Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister, said.

NDA ally JD(U) too slammed Thackeray for his stand and said the Centre should take cognizance of his comments and initiate strong action against him.

"The MNS chief has been spewing venom for past many years against the north Indian people, including those from Bihar, settled in Mumbai and Maharashtra," JD(U) spokesman Neeraj Kumar said.

Referring to RJD, Kumar said the party which has been a constituent of the UPA government for years should put pressure on it to act tough against Thackeray.

RJD spokesman Ramkripal Yadav also took umbrage to Thackeray's offensive and said the people of Bihar have constitutional right to live in any part of the country, including Maharashtra.

Bihar PCC President Chaudhary Mehboon Ali Kaiser too slammed Thackeray and said he has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan protesting against it.

NCP General Secretary Tariq Anwar too castigated the comments and said Thackeray was trying to strengthen his political base in Maharashtra by playing out regional politics.

Thackeray had on Friday threatened to dub Biharis as 'infiltrators' and drive them out of Maharashtra if Bihar created any obstacle in the prosecution of Abdul Qadir, a native of Sitamarhi district, who was recently arrested on charge of desecration of Amar Jawan Jyoti last month.