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.
Showing posts with label Mumbai for Maharashtrians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mumbai for Maharashtrians. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Shiv Sena contention a pernicious thesis: Chidambaram
Rejecting Shiv Sena’s contention of ‘Mumbai for Maharashtrians’ as a “pernicious thesis”, the Centre on Monday said the financial capital belonged to all Indians who are free to live and work there.
On Sena threats to Australian and Pakistani players’ participation in the IPL cricket event in Mumbai, Home Minister P. Chidambaram asserted that he would “guarantee them full security.”
“We reject the thesis of the Shiv Sena. Mumbai belongs to all of India and all Indians are free to live and work in Mumbai,” he said, while answering a question at a press conference here.
He said the Government of Maharashtra was competent to handle the situation and the Centre would extend help if sought. “If the government of Maharashtra seeks our advice, we will advise them but I am sure they are competent to manage the situation,” Mr. Chidambaram said.
“But, as a matter of policy, we reject the theses of the Shiv Sena and the MNS. These are pernicious theses and they have to be rejected,” he said.
Shiv Sena had on Sunday objected to the RSS view that Mumbai is for all Indians and said the city belongs only to Marathis.
On the safety of Australian and Pakistani players participating in the IPL, Mr. Chidambaram said, “Let Australian players come to India. Let Pakistani players come to India. Let them play in Mumbai and I will guarantee them full security“.
Sena had said its activists would not allow Australian players to play IPL matches in Maharashtra to protest the attacks on Indians in that country. The party has been opposing sporting ties with Pakistan contending that the neighbouring country has been supporting anti-India terrorists.
On Sena threats to Australian and Pakistani players’ participation in the IPL cricket event in Mumbai, Home Minister P. Chidambaram asserted that he would “guarantee them full security.”
“We reject the thesis of the Shiv Sena. Mumbai belongs to all of India and all Indians are free to live and work in Mumbai,” he said, while answering a question at a press conference here.
He said the Government of Maharashtra was competent to handle the situation and the Centre would extend help if sought. “If the government of Maharashtra seeks our advice, we will advise them but I am sure they are competent to manage the situation,” Mr. Chidambaram said.
“But, as a matter of policy, we reject the theses of the Shiv Sena and the MNS. These are pernicious theses and they have to be rejected,” he said.
Shiv Sena had on Sunday objected to the RSS view that Mumbai is for all Indians and said the city belongs only to Marathis.
On the safety of Australian and Pakistani players participating in the IPL, Mr. Chidambaram said, “Let Australian players come to India. Let Pakistani players come to India. Let them play in Mumbai and I will guarantee them full security“.
Sena had said its activists would not allow Australian players to play IPL matches in Maharashtra to protest the attacks on Indians in that country. The party has been opposing sporting ties with Pakistan contending that the neighbouring country has been supporting anti-India terrorists.
Sena, BJP differ on ‘Marathi Manoos’
In a stand that may widen the party's rift with Shiv Sena over the issue of North Indians living in Maharashtra, BJP President Nitin Gadkari on Monday said there was no conflict between regional and national identities and his party did not believe in discrimination on this basis.
Arguing that Indians from all parts of the country had a right to live anywhere within Indian borders, Mr. Gadkari said BJP was only opposed to special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370.
Mr. Gadkari reinforced the RSS view on the Maharashtra issue. “We respect as a ground reality that at a regional level there is tradition, heritage and language identity. But there is no conflict between regional and national identity. And so, we do not believe in any linguistic, religious or regional identity that discriminates or differentiates,” the BJP president said.
He said BJP recognised the presence of different cultures and languages in India. “BJP believes that there may be different languages and costumes (in various states) but it is one country,” Mr. Gadkari said, adding, “Presence of any language, regional or religious identity in a place is also a fact in India...This is also the strength of India.”
Mr. Gadkari maintained that Shiv Sena was an alliance partner and since both were independent parties, they could have differences over various issues.
“What the RSS has said (that North Indians should be protected in Maharashtra) is absolutely correct. All over India, every countryman has rights and all political parties should respect this basic feeling among all Indians,” BJP vice-president Shanta Kumar said. He said political parties should keep in mind that “just for politics, we should not divide the country.”
The RSS on Sunday said it would protect North Indians living in Maharashtra, a contention that brought the chasm between BJP and Shiv Sena, its ally in the state, out in the open. Shiv Sena and Raj Thackeray-led MNS have repeatedly targeted North Indians working in Maharashtra.
Another senior RSS leader Sheshadari Chari on Monday echoed the views of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on the issue. “Every Indian should be protected everywhere, not only on Indian soil but also outside it. If Indians are attacked in Australia, even there they require to be protected. So it is not a question of North Indians being protected in Maharashtra and South Indians being protected in Delhi,” he said.
Mr. Sheshadri stressed that RSS was opposed to this idea of “segregating the people on basis of community, caste, religion or language” as it amounts to dividing them.
Responding to Mr. Bhagwat’s remarks, Sena leader Manohar Joshi had on Sunday said, “The time has come to remind RSS that Mumbai belongs to Marathi people only.”
Uddhav takes on RSS
Meanwhile, targeting RSS over its spokesperson Ram Madhav’s statement about protecting north Indians against any discrimination in Mumbai, Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray on Monday asked the Sangh not to interfere on the issue of Maharashtra capital.
“Ram Madhav should not worry about Mumbai issue and should not teach us patriotism and unity,” Mr. Uddhav told reporters here on Monday.
“During 1992 Hindu-Muslim riots, Sena protected Hindus but where was RSS that time,” Mr. Uddhav said.
Mr. Ram Madhav should worry about south Indian States and teach Hindi in those States, Mr. Uddhav said.
Setting aside Shiv Sena’s claim that Mumbai was for Marathi manoos only, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had said recently, “Mumbai is for all Indians. People of all languages, communities, tribes are children of India...Nobody can prevent Indians from moving to any part of the country in search of employment.”
Arguing that Indians from all parts of the country had a right to live anywhere within Indian borders, Mr. Gadkari said BJP was only opposed to special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370.
Mr. Gadkari reinforced the RSS view on the Maharashtra issue. “We respect as a ground reality that at a regional level there is tradition, heritage and language identity. But there is no conflict between regional and national identity. And so, we do not believe in any linguistic, religious or regional identity that discriminates or differentiates,” the BJP president said.
He said BJP recognised the presence of different cultures and languages in India. “BJP believes that there may be different languages and costumes (in various states) but it is one country,” Mr. Gadkari said, adding, “Presence of any language, regional or religious identity in a place is also a fact in India...This is also the strength of India.”
Mr. Gadkari maintained that Shiv Sena was an alliance partner and since both were independent parties, they could have differences over various issues.
“What the RSS has said (that North Indians should be protected in Maharashtra) is absolutely correct. All over India, every countryman has rights and all political parties should respect this basic feeling among all Indians,” BJP vice-president Shanta Kumar said. He said political parties should keep in mind that “just for politics, we should not divide the country.”
The RSS on Sunday said it would protect North Indians living in Maharashtra, a contention that brought the chasm between BJP and Shiv Sena, its ally in the state, out in the open. Shiv Sena and Raj Thackeray-led MNS have repeatedly targeted North Indians working in Maharashtra.
Another senior RSS leader Sheshadari Chari on Monday echoed the views of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on the issue. “Every Indian should be protected everywhere, not only on Indian soil but also outside it. If Indians are attacked in Australia, even there they require to be protected. So it is not a question of North Indians being protected in Maharashtra and South Indians being protected in Delhi,” he said.
Mr. Sheshadri stressed that RSS was opposed to this idea of “segregating the people on basis of community, caste, religion or language” as it amounts to dividing them.
Responding to Mr. Bhagwat’s remarks, Sena leader Manohar Joshi had on Sunday said, “The time has come to remind RSS that Mumbai belongs to Marathi people only.”
Uddhav takes on RSS
Meanwhile, targeting RSS over its spokesperson Ram Madhav’s statement about protecting north Indians against any discrimination in Mumbai, Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray on Monday asked the Sangh not to interfere on the issue of Maharashtra capital.
“Ram Madhav should not worry about Mumbai issue and should not teach us patriotism and unity,” Mr. Uddhav told reporters here on Monday.
“During 1992 Hindu-Muslim riots, Sena protected Hindus but where was RSS that time,” Mr. Uddhav said.
Mr. Ram Madhav should worry about south Indian States and teach Hindi in those States, Mr. Uddhav said.
Setting aside Shiv Sena’s claim that Mumbai was for Marathi manoos only, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had said recently, “Mumbai is for all Indians. People of all languages, communities, tribes are children of India...Nobody can prevent Indians from moving to any part of the country in search of employment.”
