Shiv Sena hails Sheila Dixit in party mouthpiece for stand on 'outsiders'

Harping on a statement attributed to Delhi chief minister Sheila Dixit disapproving exodus into national capital from neighbouring states, Shiv Sena today demanded introduction of "license system" to enter Mumbai and Delhi to mitigate problems facing local population.

Congratulating Dixit for taking "a clear stand" on the question of "outsiders" from UP, Bihar and Haryana flocking Delhi and putting burden on its civic amenities, an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana said, "We had highlighted the same problem being faced by Mumbai when Shiv Sena was launched on October 30, 1966, demanding license system to stop the relentless rush into the metropolis from outside states, hurting locals".

Describing Dixit as a "brave" leader of Congress like Indira Gandhi, it said her frank and ruthless analysis of problems of Delhi had also brought into focus the woes of Mumbai suffering from similar predicament.

The editorial said although Dixit had not minced words in pointing fingers at outsiders coming to Delhi, Congress leaders in Maharashtra were adopting an opportunistic stand on the issue for the sake of preserving their vote banks.

"A woman chief minister of Delhi has taken a tough posture on the issue but her Maharashtra counterpart has no guts to emulate it to save Mumbai," it commented.