Remember, it was NSG men from U.P. & Bihar who took on 26/11 gunmen: Rahul

AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Monday criticised the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for their unabated tirade against people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, reminding them that NSG men who vanquished terrorists during the 26/11 attacks were also from these two States and other places.

And taking a swipe at the two Sena outfits, Mr. Gandhi said, “If terrorists have to be fought with, let Biharis remain there[Mumbai].”

“In Maharashtra, MNS leader Raj Thackeray keeps saying ‘throw out people of Bihar and U.P’. But, who killed the terrorists who had attacked Mumbai? They were the NSG guys from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and from the rest of the country. At that time they did not say throw away Biharis,” Mr. Gandhi pointed out, interacting with workers of the Youth Congress and the NSUI here.

To go it alone in Bihar

Mr. Gandhi, who set out on a tour of the NDA-ruled Bihar where the Assembly elections are due later this year, said the Congress would go it alone as it did in the Lok Sabha polls.

“Congress workers will fight for the rights of the people without fear and bring about a change in Bihar,” he said at Bettiah.

Lamenting lack of development in the State, he asked youth to change Bihar. “Bihar has to be changed and it is the youth who will bring about this change by joining politics. There is no problem with the people of Bihar.”

The Congress leader took pot shots at the BJP-Janata Dal(United) government, saying funds sent by the Centre for development schemes were not utilised properly.

Give jobs only to those born in Maharashtra, says MNS Chief

Jobs in Maharashtra should be given to only those who were born in the state, MNS chief Raj Thackeray said here on Monday.

“Just because one can write, read and speak Marathi does not entitle him to local jobs...For getting jobs in Mumbai, one has to be a Marathi by birth. Just knowledge of reading and writing the language will not do,” Raj said at a party meeting at Shanmukhananda hall in Matunga area.

Mr. Raj also criticised party members for distributing Marathi alphabet books to north Indian taxi drivers last week.

“Think over the type of protest you were undertaking. Who told you to teach them Marathi,” Mr. Raj said.

Giving them deadline of 40 days to learn the language, the transport wing of MNS had distributed Marathi alphabet books to taxi drivers last week.

Mr. Raj said he would undertake a State-wide tour from February 13. Party membership drive would be conducted after the tour, he added.