New Delhi, March 08: In a warning apparently aimed at
Raj Thackeray and the MNS, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has
said attacks on North Indians will not be tolerated and anyone
taking the law into his hands will be dealt with by "force".
"We cannot tolerate any attack on north Indians. If
someone dares to attack a north Indian in Maharashtra, we will
use force," Chavan said here during an interactive session.
The Chief Minister said his government is totally against
any campaign against North Indians as the Constitution
guarantees the right to every citizen to visit, live and work
where he or she wants.
"Constitution gives protection to everyone to visit and
work wherever we want to," he said.
Asked if the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief enjoys
special status in Maharashtra as no "tough action" has been
taken against him despite his outfit's alleged involvement in
such attacks, Chavan said, "We have not given any special
status to Raj Thackeray. The campaign is political".
"Whenever there is an election, some people always try to
launch such a campaign with an aim to get electoral benefits,"
he said.
MNS activists are involved in a number of violent
incidents, including attack on non-Marathi Railway Recruitment
Board examinees, auto and taxi drivers, labourers and others
from north India working in the state.
Bureau Report
First Published: Sunday, March 08, 2009, 00:00