New Delhi: Attacking top leaders of Shiv Sena
and MNS for its tirade against North Indians, the LJP on Wednesday
demanded the arrest of its chiefs under National Security Act
for fanning divisive sentiments in Maharashtra.
"The uncle and nephew (Bal Thackeray and Raj Thackeray)
are violating the principles laid down in the Constitution.
They are virtually engaging in anti-national activities by
fanning divisive sentiments and they deserve to be arrested
under National Security Act," Lok Janshakti Party chief
Ramvilas Paswan said here.
Taking potshots at the Congress, the LJP chief said he
wondered why the party appeared so helpless when it came to
taking action against Shiv Sena and MNS.
"Congress has a government at the Centre as well as in
the state in alliance with NCP. I do not understand why the
Central and the state government are so helpless. The
government, especially the state government, is not taking as
much action as it should have taken," Paswan alleged.
He was responding to questions on AICC general secretary
Rahul Gandhi's remarks in Patna yesterday that he will not
remain silent if people from Bihar and UP are made to suffer
in Maharashtra, arguing that any citizen of the country can
live and work anywhere in the country.
Paswan however evaded a direct reply when asked whether
it was a political stunt by Gandhi in view of the upcoming
Bihar assembly elections, saying, "I do not know what it is."
On the Sena's threat to film star Shahrukh Khan, the
LJP chief said he backs the film star's stand on the issue and
dubbed BJP's attempt to distance itself from the matter as a
"drama".
BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar earlier said, "We
do believe that there should be no in politics in sports" when
asked to comment on Sena's stand against Khan, who had
expressed regret that Pakistani players were not part of
IPL-3.
At the same time, Javadekar added, "Shahrukh is also the
owner of an IPL team and why he did not take any Pakistani
player is a question being asked."
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, February 03, 2010, 22:15