Turning the heat on Shiv Sena and MNS for their campaign against North Indians, CM Vilasrao Deshmukh said he was ready to allow Lalu Prasad Yadav to perform chhat puja in the city.
The remark reflects Cong strategy of keeping N Indian vote bank intact
MUMBAI: Turning the heat on Shiv Sena and MNS for their campaign against North Indian migrants, chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Monday said he was ready to allow railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav to perform chhat puja in the city. “As the state chief minister, I will also participate in the puja,” Deshmukh told reporters at Latur, his home constituency.
Reacting to this, Shishir Shinde, senior MNS leader, said, “What else can we expect from the government? Is MNS wrong in raising the problems of the sons of the soil? It is unfortunate that the government is buckling under pressure created by North Indian leaders.”
The CM’s remarks, which reflect the Congress’ political strategy of keeping the North Indian vote bank intact, comes at a time when MNS chief Raj Thackeray has decided to step up the agitation against the community. Deshmukh’s support to the puja, which is performed in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, also comes at a time when Shiv Sena has decided to revert to street politics using the Marathi plank.
Sources in All India Congress Committee said, “After Raj Thackeray’s rally at Shivaji Park on May 3, Congress high command Sonia Gandhi ticked off Deshmukh for not doing enough to control attacks against North Indians. She wondered what was happening in the city under the Congress-NCP regime.”
“Deshmukh was upset with the developments. On one hand, pressure to arrest Raj Thackeray was building up on the government and on the other, he had to ensure his decision did not trigger law and order problems,” a close associate of Deshmukh said.
Earlier in the day, RJD announced it would perform the chhat puja opposite Raj Thackeray’s house at Shivaji Park on November 3 and 4. Its chief Lalu Prasad would perform the puja, said party sources.
RJD state spokesperson Manoj Singh said, “We do not need anybody’s permission for praying to God. We have planned to gather around 2 lakh devotees for the puja at Shivaji Park.”
MNS general secretary Pravin Darekar refused to react to Singh’s announcement. “I do not think it is such an important matter that we should take cognizance of it,” he said.
Prior to the RJD announcement, suspected MNS activists tore the posters displayed by Lalu Prasad’s party in Bandra and Dadar. The posters showed a tight-lipped Raj Thackeray with the caption: Everyone has the right to stay in Mumbai. Let us live in peace. Darekar, however, denied that MNS workers were behind the act.
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