Zeenews Bureau
Lucknow: Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s controversial remarks on the rising migration from Uttar Pradesh to Maharashtra and Punjab has invited sharp reactions from BJP, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and Shiv Sena.
Kickstarting Congress’s campaign for Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections in Phulpur, Gandhi said, “People of Uttar Pradesh are appreciated for their hard work; wherever they go in search of job...How long will you beg in Maharashtra (for work)? How long will you work as labourer in Punjab?"
Reacting strongly to Congress general secretary’s comment Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) supremo Raj Thackeray said, “All prominent Nehru-Gandhi family members got elected from Uttar Pradesh. They have enjoyed power for so many years. But they did nothing for the development of the state”.
“People migrate to other states because of lack of development in the state”, he added.
The MNS leader said the people from Uttar Pradesh should know who had made them "beg".
Maintaining that the Congress General Secretary has a “poor understanding" of history, Raj asked the Amethi MP, "He should check the history of Maharashtra and also find out who destroyed Uttar Pradesh."
Raj’s cousin and Shiv Sena executive president Uddhab Thackeray also hit out at Gandhi saying his remarks smacks of parochialism.
“Rahul Gandhi is simply following the divide and rule police,” said Thackeray.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde too slammed Gandhi for his controversial remarks.
"If somebody goes to other states in search of work, it should not be equated with begging. It is an insult of the people from UP and Bihar," Munde said.
First Published: Monday, November 14, 2011, 20:24