North-Indians are lifeline of Mumbai: Paswan

NEW DELHI: Terming north-Indians as the 'life-line' of Mumbai, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Thursday said 'anti-people' forces like Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and Shiv Sena were trying to divide the nation.

"Maharashtra has 57 per cent of north Indians who are toiling for the progress of the state and nation. MNS and Bal Thackeray would face a severe repercussion of their drive to separate people on the basis of region or language," Paswan said on the sidelines of a function.

"All milkmen, taxi drivers, green grocers and labourers in Mumbai are from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. North Indians are life line of Mumbai," he said.

Terming Bal Thackeray's editorial against Biharis in Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Samna' as futile, Paswan asked people to unite and stand tall against such forces.

"I have already asked the Prime Minister to intervene in the matter. If need arises, the party will again approach him for strict action against Raj Thackeray," he said.

Accusing both 'Chacha-Bhatija' (Bal Thackeray-Raj Thackeray) of leading a campaign against north-Indians for vested political gains, he said "It's time they stopped playing with the sentiments of people."

At the function, Paswan released a book to mark the 119th anniversary of Swami Sahajanand Saraswati.