Mumbai: Maharashtra government has assured
adequate protection for the Bihar Day function scheduled here on April 15 in view of the threat by Raj Thackeray-led MNS to disrupt the celebrations.
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan Friday chaired a meeting
with Home Minister R R Patil and top Home department officials
to review security arrangements for the event, which will be
attended by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
"The Chief Minister asked top officials to ensure that
there is no law and order problem in Mumbai and other parts of
the state due to the MNS threat," a senior official said after the meeting at Vidhan Bhawan here.
Chavan has promised adequate security for the event, he
said, adding that if necessary, preventive arrests will be
made to ensure the function goes off without any disturbance.
Nitish will be the chief guest at the function organised
by the Bihar Foundation to mark 100 years of the formation of
Bihar state.
Continuing with his tirade against north Indians here, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has challenged Nitish to celebrate Bihar Day in Mumbai.
Commenting on Raj's objection to the event, Nitish had
last week said, "I don't need a visa to go to Mumbai."
Reacting to the statement, Raj said in Malegaon
yesterday, "If Nitish Kumar is going to indulge in such
theatrics, I challenge him to celebrate Bihar Day in Mumbai. I
want to put an end to such tactics and you will see it."
In 2008, Raj had objected to celebrations of Chhat Puja,
a festival of Bihar, in the city. He was also involved in a
verbal duel with then Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.
NCP chief and Union Minister Sharad Pawar has voiced his
opposition to any disruption of Bihar Day event.
PTI
First Published: Friday, April 13, 2012, 14:55